10 Easy & Affordable Thanksgiving Activities for Kids That Keep Them Entertained While You Cook

Thanksgiving is truly a magical time. In my house, it runs just slightly behind Christmas as the most loved holiday. Between the laughter, the food, and the family gathering around the table, there’s so much to be thankful for.

But if you’re anything like me, you know that keeping the kids entertained while the turkey cooks (and the adults chat) is a must! So, every year, I plan simple, fun, and budget-friendly Thanksgiving activities for kids that help them feel part of the celebration, without adding more stress to my plate.

Here are 10 of my favorite Thanksgiving crafts and games that kids can enjoy right at the table or in their own special “kids’ zone.”

1. Leaf Trees

Materials: toilet paper or paper towel rolls, marker/crayon, cardstock or construction paper, real or artificial leaves, glue.

Let kids make their own fall trees by gluing colorful leaves onto paper trunks. Encourage them to write or draw something they’re thankful for on each leaf. It’s creative, meaningful, and doubles as Thanksgiving decor.

2. Coloring Placemats

Materials: DIY or premade placemats.

These Thanksgiving placemats come in a variety pack of  20. They keep little ones occupied while they wait for dinner to be served, and they add a festive touch to the kids’ table.

3. Thanksgiving Bingo

Materials: There are easy to find templates online. You can access my Thanksgiving Bingo version here, inside this Thanksgiving Day Activity Page Bundle. This one is a family favorite! Kids love shouting “Bingo!” between bites of pie. Use candy corn or fall-themed buttons as markers for a fun seasonal twist.

4. Butcher Paper Table Cloth

Materials: Butcher paper, markers/crayons/chalk, or paint/paint brushes or paint sticks (easy and less mess), stickers.

• This butcher paper roll is 18 in x 100 ft.

• This no spill paint set will decrease any chances of accidental splatters, as well as make clean up easy. And it’s washable.

• These paint sticks are a nice and easy alternative to paint.

Tip: Cover the entire table or designate an area on the floor for the butcher paper. Tape it down.

5. Paper Plate Pumpkin

Materials: paper plate, glue, tissue paper, construction/printer paper, stick (real stick or popscicle stick).

We once reused the cardboard from a frozen pizza box. It worked perfectly! Kids glue torn pieces of tissue paper to form their pumpkin, then add a green popsicle stick stem and paper or artificial leaf.

6. Leaf Printing

Materials: leaves (real or artificial), paint, paint brush, paper (cardstock for sturdiness).

Tip: Paint one side of a leaf, press it firmly onto paper, and lift to reveal a nature-inspired print. Each one is unique, just like every child at the table.

7. Turkey Hat

Materials: craft feathers or feathers cut from paper, turkey cut out, googly eyes, glue. You can go this route or order premade materials to make it easy on yourself.

This turkey making kit comes with everything you need. Makes 24 turkeys.

8. Pumpkin Painting

Materials: Real or fake, craft pumpkins, paint/paint brushes, embellishments (ie. stickers, beads, string, rhinestones).

These wood craft pumpkins come in a pack of 24 and have a pre drilled hole at the top, in case you want to hang all that amazing art work afterwards.

9. Thankful Bracelets

Materials: beads, string, accessories

This bead making kit comes with all you need to set up for bracelet making.

10. Canvas Art

Materials: canvas, paint, paint brushes, easel.

This canvas kit comes with 12 sets. Each set includes a pre drawn canvas, easel, 2 paint brushes, color mixing card, and 6 paint colors.

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be hectic. With a little prep and a few creative activities, kids can feel included, express gratitude, and make lasting memories, all while you get a few peaceful minutes to baste the turkey.

These Thanksgiving crafts and games for kids bring joy, laughter, and color to one of the most special days of the year. So grab some butcher paper, paint, and glue sticks and let the fun (and thankfulness) begin!

These are all easy, budget friendly, fun, and engaging. Let us know which one you will try. If you have additional ideas, let the community know so that we can add them to the list. We would love to hear from you.

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