Thanksgiving day has a strange rhythm for children. There is a long wait before the meal, a burst of excitement when guests arrive, then another wait while the grown-ups talk at the table. A few ready games make a big difference to everyone’s mood.
This guide collects Thanksgiving games for kids and families in four groups: games for the table, quiet pen-and-paper options, active games and short minute-to-win-it challenges. Most need little more than paper, a pen and a bit of imagination.
How to plan games for the day
A little planning keeps the games from becoming one more thing to manage.
- Pick three or four. More than that and you will not use them.
- Mix energy levels. Follow an active game with a quiet one so nobody becomes overtired.
- Prepare in advance. Write cards, cut paper and gather pens the night before.
- Think about the oldest and the youngest. Choose rules that a four-year-old can follow and that a teenager will not find boring.
- Be flexible. If a game flops, move on without fuss.
Games for the table
The gratitude round
Each person says one thing they are thankful for, and the next person repeats it, then adds their own. The list grows longer, and people are delighted when they recall everything. For younger children, skip the repeating and just share one thing each. It is simple, it brings people together, and it fits naturally into the meal.
Two truths and a turkey
Each player makes up three statements about their week, two true and one false. The others guess which is false. Children enjoy trying to fool the adults. Keep the statements friendly and silly.
Pass the story
One person begins a story with a single sentence about a turkey who wanted to try something new. Each person adds one sentence in turn. The stories get funnier as they go, and even young children can contribute a short line.
Table guessing game
Hide a small object, for example a pinecone or an acorn, in a paper bag. Players ask yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. Choose objects that are safe to pass around, and avoid anything small enough for a toddler to put in their mouth.
Quiet pen-and-paper games
These are useful for the time before dinner, when you need children to settle.
- Word hunt. Write a long Thanksgiving word such as “thankfulness” on a page. How many smaller words can each person find using its letters in five minutes?
- Autumn bingo. Draw a three-by-three grid and fill it with autumn things such as a leaf, a pumpkin, a pie or a scarf. Children tick items off when they spot them on a walk or around the house.
- Gratitude drawing. Ask each child to draw something they are thankful for, then share it at the table.
- Dots and boxes. A classic two-player pen-and-paper game that works for ages six and up with a simple explanation.
- Spot the difference. Draw a simple scene twice with small differences, then challenge a sibling to find them.
For more ideas without equipment, see Games to Play at Home With Kids Without Any Equipment, and for relaxed, low-energy activities, our guide to quiet time activities for kids has plenty of options.
Active games
Active games burn off energy. Use a room away from the kitchen so nobody runs into hot dishes, and clear the floor of anything breakable.
Turkey charades
Write animals and Thanksgiving ideas on slips of paper, such as turkey, pie, pumpkin or football. Players take turns acting them out silently. For younger children, make it team-based so they can act with an older partner.
Autumn scavenger hunt
Hide paper leaves, acorn cutouts or pictures around the room, or write a list of autumn things to find. Give each child a bag and a time limit. Use cutouts rather than real small objects so the hunt stays safe for young children.
Freeze dance with a theme
Play music and let children dance like turkeys, leaves in the wind or squirrels collecting acorns. When the music stops, they freeze. It is a classic that works for mixed ages and for adults who are willing.
Indoor obstacle path
Lay out cushions and towels for a safe path of steps, crawls and jumps. Kindergarteners enjoy being the “farmer” gathering paper pumpkins along the route. Our list of indoor activities for 4 year olds includes more movement ideas for small spaces.
Minute-to-win-it style challenges
These short challenges are popular because they take about a minute each and often produce laughter. Use non-food items where possible, since small foods can be a choking hazard for young children.
- Cotton ball transfer. Move cotton balls from one bowl to another using a spoon in one minute.
- Cup stack. Build a pyramid of plastic cups in the shortest time.
- Leaf flutter. Keep a paper leaf in the air for as long as possible using only breath, no hands.
- Pom-pom scoop. Use chopsticks or tongs to move pom-poms into a cup. Younger children can use their fingers.
- Paper plate toss. Toss small paper pumpkins into a basket from a set distance.
Keep a timer on hand, have players take turns and let everyone cheer for each other. It is also a helpful way to get shy children involved, since each challenge is quick and the whole group is laughing together.
Printable activity pages for downtime
Not every child wants a team game. Some prefer to color, solve and draw in a quiet corner. Printable activity books are handy for exactly these moments because they need no setup and can be done in small pieces.
Thanksgiving & Fall Activity Book for Kids is a 25-page printable PDF for ages 4 to 8 with gratitude pages such as “My Gratitude Tree”, coloring pages, mazes, spot the difference, connect the dots, counting pages and a Thanksgiving crossword. It costs $4.99. For children who prefer searching and spotting, Hidden Pictures & Seek-and-Find Activity Book is a printable book for ages 4 to 10 that is also $4.99.
If you like puzzles that are specific to the holiday, Thanksgiving Crossword and Puzzles for Kids has ideas for a simple puzzle corner, and Thanksgiving Worksheets for Kids explains what to look for and how to use pages without turning the holiday into homework.
A simple game schedule
If you like a plan, this rhythm works for many families:
- Arrival: a quiet drawing or word hunt while guests settle in.
- Before dinner: a short active game or charades.
- At the table: the gratitude round and two truths and a turkey.
- After dinner: a few minute-to-win-it challenges, then a puzzle page for anyone who wants to wind down.
A few final tips
- Let children help choose the games. They are more invested when they have a say.
- Keep scores light. Cheering for effort is better than ranking winners.
- Include grown-ups. A game where everyone plays is the one children remember.
- Save one gratitude activity for the end of the day, when everyone is relaxed.
