The holiday food is served, the kids are tired and full of rolls and potatoes, and it’s that weird time between events where no one really knows what to do. We’ve all been there and many of us will be there again this week. Here are some easy, no prep and no supply, activities to keep the family engaged and the kids smiling!
1. The “Turkey Talk” Challenge
We all know how much fun it is to imitate animal sounds at the dinner table. But this Thanksgiving, make it a challenge: who can make the best turkey gobble? Make it a family activity and have one person close their eyes and guess the gobbler!
2. Who Am I? (Thanksgiving Edition)
Write the names of famous people (or characters) on sticky notes, and stick one on each person’s forehead without them seeing it. Then, everyone takes turns asking yes/no questions to figure out who they are. Extra fun if you add in Thanksgiving-specific characters like “Pilgrim,” “turkey,” or “Sweet Potato Casserole.”
3. Thanksgiving Charades
You already know how to play charades, but this version is Thanksgiving-themed! Here’s the list my family will be using: turkey, naptime, mashing potatoes, lighting candles, taking a picture, setting the table, carving a turkey, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football, pumpkin pie, apple pie, food fight, cranberry sauce, Pilgrims, Native Americans, family, stuffing
4. Find the Hidden Turkey
Take turns hiding a little turkey figurine (or something equally festive) in plain sight, but not too obvious. The person who finds it gets to hide it next. A great way to get the kiddos moving around after their third helping of mashed potatoes.
5. Thanksgiving “Would You Rather?”
Create a list of Thanksgiving-themed “Would you rather” questions. Here’s an example: “Would you rather eat only mashed potatoes for the rest of your life, or never have pumpkin pie again?” Or “Would you rather sit next to the talkative cousin or the one who keeps falling asleep during dinner?”
6. Thanksgiving Pictionary
The hardest part is making the list! I’ve got your back: Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, Fall Leaves, Pilgrim, Apple Picking, Cranberry Sauce, Football, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Stuffing, Sweater Weather, Hot Apple Cider, Bonfire, Scarecrow, Mashed Potatoes, Baking a Pie.
7. Thankful Twister
You know the game “Twister,” right? Well, imagine it without the mat (you can still make up rules for where to put your hands and feet). Each time someone calls out a Thanksgiving-related word—like “cranberry,” “Pilgrim,” or “stuffing”—everyone has to touch their elbow to the floor or balance on one foot. The family’s flexibility will be tested, and you’ll all end up in a heap of holiday cheer.
8. Family Guess Who
Have each person write down 3-5 facts about himself. Then, have one person read off the facts and guess who the details belong to. The more silly and obscure the better!
9. Story Building
Start a story with one sentence—“Once upon a time, a turkey went to the store”—and then have each person add a sentence to the story. By the time it’s your turn again, it’ll be a wild and weird tale.
10. The Compliment Relay
Sit in a circle. One person gives a compliment to someone on the other side of the circle, who then has to pass it on. The next person has to give a new compliment. The goal is to keep the circle going until everyone gets involved. You’ll be surprised at how creative some folks get.
11. Instead of eating….
Pick a random item from the dinner table—“cranberry sauce,” “green beans,” “rolls”—and take turns making up funny, exaggerated uses for it. For example: “Instead of eating it cranberry sauce could be a facial mask” or “Instead of eating it rolls as a pillow.” This is a fun marketing game! Have the kids sell it
12. The Thanksgiving Alphabet Game
Pick a category (animals, foods, places, etc.) and go around the table, each person naming something that fits the category and starts with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, Thanksgiving foods: “A is for apple pie,” “B is for Brussels sprouts…”
13. Two Truths and a Lie (Thanksgiving Style)
Each person shares two true facts and one made-up fact about Thanksgiving. The others have to guess which one is the lie. For example: “I’ve met a turkey,” “I once cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people,” “I hate pumpkin pie.”
14. Thanksgiving Telephone
Start by whispering a Thanksgiving-related phrase into the ear of the first person. They then whisper it to the next person, and so on. By the time it gets back to you, the phrase will likely be hilariously garbled.
15. Gratitude chain
In this fun game you have to remember what the people before you were grateful for. For example the first person says, “I’m Mom and I’m thankful for sweet potatoes.” The second person would say, “I’m Dad and I’m thankful for corn and Mom is thankful for potatoes.” The third person would say, “I’m brother and I’m thankful for rolls, Dad is thankful for corn, and Mom is thankful for potatoes.” As the circle continues it gets harder and harder to remember!
