Thanksgiving can be long and overwhelming for kids, especially when much of the day revolves around adults cooking, eating, and talking. Creating kid-focused traditions keeps children engaged, gives them something to look forward to, and helps them feel like an important part of the holiday. Here are 21 Thanksgiving traditions for kids that they will enjoy year after year.
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1. Handprint Turkeys
Let kids trace their hands and turn them into colorful turkey art. Each year’s version can be saved as a keepsake to look back on as they grow.
2. Kids’ Table Decorating
Give kids craft supplies to create placemats, name cards, or centerpieces for their own table. It keeps them busy while adding a personal touch to the meal.
3. Turkey Hunt
Hide small paper turkeys, plastic figures, or candy around the house for kids to find. It’s an easy game that helps them burn off energy before dinner.
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4. Gratitude Tree
Provide paper leaves and have kids write (or dictate) what they’re thankful for. The leaves can be hung on a branch centerpiece that grows more special each year.
5. Parade Bingo
Make bingo cards with balloons, floats, or characters from the Thanksgiving parade. Kids will be entertained while watching the broadcast.
6. Kids vs. Adults Game
Plan a trivia, charades, or Pictionary match where kids take on the grown-ups. The laughter and competition create great memories for everyone.
7. Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes
Blend pumpkin pie with ice cream and milk to make festive shakes. It’s a fun alternative dessert that feels designed just for the kids.
8. Thanksgiving Play or Skit
Encourage kids to put on a short performance after dinner. They can act out a story, sing a song, or make up something silly for entertainment.
9. DIY Thanksgiving Crowns
Provide construction paper and markers so kids can make pilgrim hats or turkey crowns. They’ll love wearing their creations at the dinner table.
10. Kids’ Cooking Helpers
Give kids simple tasks like stirring batter, rolling dough, or snapping green beans. Helping in the kitchen makes them feel included in the holiday.
11. Candy Corn Guessing Game
Fill a jar with candy corn or fall-colored candies and let kids guess how many are inside. The winner gets to keep the jar or a small prize.
12. Kids Dinner the Night After Thanksgiving
Turn the kids into chefs by hosting a special dinner party the evening after Thanksgiving. Each year has a theme – like sandwiches, rainbow colors, or finger foods – and kids pick a dish, shop for ingredients, and cook while adults act as judges and award prizes.
13. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items for kids to find around the house or yard, like a pumpkin, a pinecone, or a football. Scavenger hunts add adventure to the day.
14. Decorate Pumpkin Desserts
Bake mini pumpkin pies or cupcakes and let kids decorate them with whipped cream, sprinkles, or candy. The creativity makes dessert even sweeter.
15. Outdoor Games for Kids
Set up sack races, relay games, or cornhole in the yard. These activities keep kids active and entertained while dinner is being prepared.
16. Kids’ Gratitude Journal
Give each child a small notebook to record what they’re thankful for each Thanksgiving. Over time, these journals can become treasured keepsakes.
17. Thanksgiving Storytime
Read a Thanksgiving-themed book together before dinner. It’s a calm, cozy tradition that helps kids wind down.
18. Build a LEGO Turkey
Challenge kids to create turkeys, pumpkins, or pies out of LEGO bricks. It adds a creative twist to the day’s fun.
19. Kids’ Thanksgiving Parade
Encourage kids to create their own parade at home with costumes, toy instruments, or decorated wagons. They’ll love showing it off to the adults.
20. Thankful Hands Garland
Have each child write something they’re grateful for on paper hand cutouts. String them together into a garland to hang across a doorway or wall.
21. Kids’ Movie Night
After dinner, set up a kids-only movie night with popcorn and cozy blankets. It gives them a special event to look forward to while the adults relax.
Thanksgiving traditions don’t have to be serious or complicated – especially when it comes to kids. The best traditions are the ones that spark joy, give them a role in the holiday, and make them feel like part of the celebration. From scavenger hunts and skits to the beloved kids’ dinner the night after Thanksgiving, these activities will keep kids smiling and create lasting memories. Start with one or two this year, and you’ll quickly find yourself building a Thanksgiving your kids look forward to as much as the feast itself.