10 Activities to Do With Kids for Thanksgiving

By Erin McNeill While we should be thankful all year long, Thanksgiving brings about the feeling that we should be doing more to appreciate what we already have. Raising kids to be thankful is an important part of most families and here are a

few activities you can do together to inspire thankfulness in your own home.

1. Participate in a Turkey Trot – Find a local run or walk to participate in as a family on Thanksgiving Day. They are typically held the morning of Thanksgiving and what better way to start the day than a bit of exercise as a family?
2. What are you thankful for? – This is a great activity to do before the big meal on Thanksgiving Day. Cut out the shape of the number four and have guests write what they are thankful for on the numbers. During your meal, take the time to share what everyone is thankful for. After sharing you can hang up the fours as a reminder of what you are thankful for.
3. Give back – Take the time to volunteer as a family at a local food bank or soup kitchen. Kids will be able to see what they can do for others and also the things that they should be thankful for in their own lives.
4. Gourd Games – Why not make a game out of the fabulous gourds that abundant during this time of year? Pumpkin bowling can be done with a small pumpkin (remove the stem) and some plastic bottles, just set up like you’d normally set up a bowling alley and remember to roll the pumpkin gently. You can also have a family pumpkin roll by setting up a course on one edge of your lawn and having family members use brooms to push gourds to the other end of the yard.
5. Cook with the kids – Kids love to eat what they’ve helped cook! Involve them in the menu planning, shopping, and cooking as much as their developmental level allows.
6. Handprint turkeys – Each year as your child grows do a traditional turkey handprint with them. Then, have your child write on the turkey what they are thankful for.
7. Family time – One of the best ways to feel thankful about what you have is to spend time with those you love the most. Make it a family day by playing games together, finding a craft to do, or video chat with far away family members!
8. Nature walks – After your thanksgiving meal take the time to take a walk as a family. To keeps interested in the walk ask them to collect nature items along the way and then make a thankfulness collage upon your arrival back home.
9. Pin the tail on the turkey – Draw a turkey on a piece of paper and cut out turkey feathers or fall leaves. Have each guest write what they are thankful for. Have everyone take turns pinning the feather or leaf on the turkey.
10. Write notes to family and friends – Take the time to write short notes to family and friends stating why you are thankful they are in your lives. Relatives that live far away will be delighted to read notes from you children!

This is only a start, have your family come up with additional ways that they can show their thankfulness to others. Don’t forget to tell your children that you are thankful that they are in your lives!

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