Easy Thanksgiving Party Ideas for Kids
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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and it’s such a great time to gather family members together for food, fun, and making memories. Whether you’re hosting a classroom party, planning a themed playdate, or organizing a few fun Thanksgiving activities for kids at home, these easy party ideas are sure to make your Thanksgiving party or Thanksgiving Day a truckload of fun!
From creative crafts to outdoor activities and simple games, you’ll find plenty of ways to keep the kids happy and entertained!
Thanksgiving Crafts Kids Will Love
Thanksgiving crafts are a perfect way to kick off your celebration and keep little hands busy. These easy projects can be set up as party stations or done together as a family.
Milk Bottle Turkey Craft
This turkey craft is always a hit at Thanksgiving parties and is also perfect to make a super cute centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table! It’s colorful, creative, and a fun way for kids to use their imagination while improving their fine motor skills.
Supplies Needed:
- Small clear plastic milk bottles or recycled drink bottles
- Brown acrylic paint
- Foam sheets or colored cardstock (for feathers, beak, and gobbler)
- Googly eyes
- Craft feathers
- Glue dots or hot glue gun (with supervision)
How to Make It:
Squirt about 2 teaspoons of brown acrylic paint into each milk bottle and have the kids swirl it around until the entire inside of the bottle is coated with paint. Turn the milk bottle upside down on a paper towel and allow the excess to drip down. Set them aside and do a few other crafts while these dry.
Cut out feather shapes, a beak and gobbler for each turkey. Then use a hot glue gun to attach the googly eyes, beak and gobbler.
Have the kids arrange their foam or cardstock feathers and real feathers how they want them and then use glue dots or a hot glue gun to attach them to the back of the milk bottle. Ours turned out DARLING, and the kids said this was their favorite craft. These turkeys will make the cutest Thanksgiving centerpieces – don’t you think?
Gratitude Tree
A Gratitude Tree is a beautiful craft that helps kids reflect on thankfulness during the Thanksgiving season. It’s perfect for a classroom party, a Thanksgiving playdate, or just spending quality time as a family.
You can download my Gratitude Tree or purchase this foam set with no prep work at all.
Supplies Needed:
- Paper tree or foam tree
- Leaf shapes
- Markers or crayons
- Glue or tape
Kids can write or draw things they’re thankful for on each leaf and glue them to the branches. Be sure to display your child’s Gratitude Tree so everyone can see it during your Thanksgiving feast!
Pumpkin Pie Scented Play Dough
This easy Thanksgiving craft recipe is always a crowd-pleaser! And it smells heavenly.
Glitter Pumpkins
These fun pumpkins can be made with real or fake pumpkins and are an absolutely perfect decoration for your Thanksgiving table!
Thanksgiving Charm Bracelets
These fun little bracelets were a huge hit at our Thanksgiving party and I’m sure they will be at yours as well! They’re easy to make although the kids might need some help tying them when finished.
Supplies:
How to Make:
Have the kids alternate Thanksgiving bead, spacer bead, silver charm, spacer bead, Thanksgiving bead until their bracelets are the length they desire. Adults may need to precut the elastic so the kids don’t make them too small or too large.
Fun Thanksgiving Games for Kids
Once the crafts are complete, it’s time to play! These fun Thanksgiving games are great for entertaining kids and getting out all that extra energy! They’re easy to set up and can be played indoors or outdoors.
Turkey Scavenger Hunt
Turn your Thanksgiving celebration into a mini adventure with a turkey-themed scavenger hunt. It’s a great outdoor activity and works well for large family gatherings or classroom parties. It can also be played indoors if necessary.
How to Play:
The directions and free printable for this Turkey Hunt can be found at dateyourspouse.com
Turkey Timer Game
This game is so simple, but it might have been the most fun the kids had at our Thanksgiving party! The kids take turns going into a room or space by themselves and hiding the turkey. Then a timer is set for 1 minute and the rest of the kids race around and try to find the turkey first.
Turkey Trot
This fun game is like a Thanksgiving version of a cake walk and works great at a party or family gathering.
Supplies Needed:
- Turkey paper plates, each one numbered (have the same number of plates as kids playing)
- Numbers on scraps of paper to match the numbers on the plates
- A bowl to draw number from
- Music
Play this Thanksgiving game just like a cupcake walk. Each child starts next to a plate to begin. Play music and have them dance-walk around the circle until the music stops. When the music stops, have each child stand next to a plate. Draw a number out of the bowl and that child then brings their plate up and gets their prize or treat. The game continues until every child has won a treat.
More Thanksgiving Games & Activities
- Thanksgiving Danger Word Game
- Fun Thanksgiving Scattergories Game
- Free Printable Thanksgiving Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Thanksgiving Charades Game for the Whole Family
- Easy Paper Bag Turkey Craft for Preschooliers
- Thanksgiving Bingo – Free Printable
Snacks and Sweet Treats
A kids’ Thanksgiving party isn’t complete without a few themed snacks! These simple ideas make snack time extra festive.
Party Pumpkin Cake Bars
These are so easy to make and always a hit with everyone including the kids!
Mini Pumpkin Pie Cups
Serve these no bake pumpkin pie bites in clear cups with whipped cream on top.
Thanksgiving Turkey Snack Bags
Fill clear plastic food-safe gloves with popcorn and colored candies.
Fruit Cornucopia Cones
Fill waffle cones with fresh fruit for a colorful and easy snack option.
These treats are a perfect way to make your Thanksgiving celebration feel special!
Tips for Thanksgiving Party Planning
Hosting a kids’ Thanksgiving party doesn’t have to be complicated! Here are a few tips to make it easy and fun for everyone:
- Set up separate stations for crafts, games, and snacks.
- Include both indoor and outdoor activities if the weather allows.
- Use simple decorations like small pumpkins, paper leaves, and kid-made crafts.
Have a Great Thanksgiving Party!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time for a fun classroom, play group or family party for the kids! It’s really the perfect time to focus on fun kid’s crafts and food! I hope you’ve found plenty of ideas and inspiration for your party.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your holiday is filled with joy, gratitude and family!