10+ Thanksgiving kid activities

Having activities for kids on thanksgiving is one of my top priorities for the holiday. After three kids, I have found that planning a few Thanksgiving activities helps make the holiday more memorable and keeps everyone content while the food is cooking. Plus it keeps the holiday fun!

I have compiled 11 of the best activities that has helped me in the past (as well as this year!) to make Turkey Day an incredible holiday. This list has every type of autumn activity that you can think of to help moms feel prepared this Thanksgiving. 

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Interested in my top fall kids activities for this Thanksgiving? Keep Reading…

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DIY Play Doh

Making your own play doh is a super simple craft that will keep your kids busy all morning long- even with all of the excitement of a well loved holiday like Thanksgiving! With just a few household ingredients, you can even have your kids help make it so they feel like they are cooking with you! Add in some autumn colored food coloring and watch the kids play independently for hours.
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This is definitely one of my favorite kid activities!

​Thanksgiving Books

Check out this list of adorable Thanksgiving books from Fry Party of Five. This list includes books like How to Catch a Turkey and Bear says Thanks. 


To make this list, the author sat down with her kids to help her choose the books that they wanted to read on Thanksgiving day then they sat and rated them after they got them all- how fun is that?

Autumn Decoding Activity

This is the perfect activity to get kids using their brains and having fun together while dinner is cooking! Sunshine and Munchkins created this awesome Thanksgiving decoding activity to keep the peace while that turkey roasts! I am really looking forward to surprising my first grader with this activity- I think it will be a hit and give her a little bit of a mental break from all of the holiday excitement. 

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​Fall Pumpkin Activity
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This Montessori inspired craft is the perfect activity for preschoolers to help them learn their numbers and is the perfect distraction while waiting for dinner. This pumpkin counting activity from Mom Wife Busy Life is just adorable. 

I think I will be adding this to my kids' math homeschooling curriculum for this November!

Edible Apple Turkey Craft

You know that awkward time before Thanksgiving dinner when your kids get hungry and you are afraid that if you feed them then they won’t eat dinner? Well trust me, it happens. That's why I like to have activities like this edible apple turkey craft for kids on deck just in case. ​

​Turkey Feathers Counting Craft
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If you are looking for the perfect way to add some color into your holiday and entertain your toddler, then look no further than this adorable Turkey Feathers Counting Craft. Having three kids means I will need to have a lot of activities on hand, and I love that this craft can be used to decorate the table as well as keep everyone happy for the entire holiday.

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

 What a perfect- and free- activity to do this fall! These Thanksgiving themed coloring pages are free and adorable. For my family's thanksgiving this year, we printed them off and had the kids color them a few days before the actual holiday to help make the house seem more festive before their grandparents came over. Not only was it adorable, but it was the perfect activity to get everyone ready for the holiday. ​

​Autumn Wreath for Preschoolers

This autumn wreath is the most adorable, perfect activity for young kids to help them feel involved with the decorating as well as to occupy a lot of their time with this craft. Two Pink Peonies walks you through a step by step tutorial to make this simple autumn wreath where you will only need a few items that you probably already have around the house! ​

Thanksgiving Dot Marker Activity
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If you have a preschooler, then you know how big of a hit any craft that involves a Dot Marker can be. Tie it into a Fall themed craft and this activity is a guaranteed hit for the entire family! Two Pink Peonies does a great job at tying this fun craft into all Turkey Day festivities. 

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Thanksgiving Activity Mat

Looking for a super easy way to keep kids entertained? How about this adorable Thanksgiving activity mat from XOXO Erin Smith? She did a great job at creating a coloring mat with a ton of games to keep your kids busy either before or after dinner! ​
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Fall activity mat in Spanish
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Did you know that my in-laws are from Central America? This makes holidays super fun because the traditions are unique and we are able to put a Latino flair on a lot of our traditions. That is where the Thanksgiving Activity Mat in Spanish from Bilingual Beginnings comes into play. I love incorporating as much Spanish into our holidays as possible (it is my husbands first language, after all) and this super cute play mat is the perfect way to do that for my own kids and their cousins!

In conclusion to Kids fall activities

Having Thanksgiving activities for kids before dinner is very important. With all of the holiday excitement, it can be easy for children to get bored while your cooking and have it turn into a lot of complaining while you are trying to cook- I don't want that for you! Just like you plan ahead the meal for everyone to enjoy, take some time to plan a few independent activities like the ones listed above and you won't regret it.   

So tell me Mama... what did I miss? What are some of your favorite activities to do before Thanksgiving Dinner with kids?

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