Activities and games are a great way to interact with your family. While some family members may be watch television or taking naps, others may look forward to the fun you’ve planned.
Steps
1. Past.
What activities has your family enjoyed in the past? Family favorites can not only be fun, but bring up stories of when someone did something silly or particularly memorable. Talk with others and see what they remember as well. Make a list of possibilities that might go from a “once in a while” to a “Thanksgiving tradition.”
2. Games.
Games are a great way to spend time together while socializing. Do you have any board, card, dice or other games that your family enjoys playing together? Would your family members be receptive to trying a new game? Create a list of possibilities and run it by your family before the holiday.
3. Family Trivia.
Creating your own family trivia cards? You can use this time to either start everyone filling them out or playing. Interested in creating a game? Check out the Unbored Zine listed in the supplements for a starting point.
4. Puzzles.
A few puzzles are listed in the supplements to try. You can find many online that are tailored to specific ages. If none of them fit your fancy, take the provided word list and create your own puzzle(s) for Thanksgiving.
5. Color.
Coloring sheets can reflect the season or holiday. You might choose to color for Thanksgiving or get a start on Christmas with items to put in windows, cards and more. Look online for free color sheets to start.
6. Roll-a-Turkey.
A sheet of paper, a pencil and a six-sided die are the basics. Roll the die and then draw that part. The first one done wins! You can provide a sample turkey, parts drawn out on the sheet or cards . . . or let everyone express their creativity.
For an alternative, you can prepare the turkeys beforehand and provide features of different colors. Each color would be awarded on a different roll of the dice and the goal would be to get one of each feather color. What other variants might work for your family?
7. BINGO.
Kids any age can play BINGO. Personalizing your cards for the holiday can make it special. You can give away prizes, table settings that are no longer needed, extra bottles of alcohol that you know you won’t drink, etc. Your game and prizes should reflect the age of your participants!
8. Outdoors.
If the weather is nice, you might want to take it outdoors. Tag, hide and go seek, and other games can be played to wear off that piece of pumpkin pie. You can also do something more low key like taking a walk around your neighborhood. You can even adapt other activities into one themed for the Thanksgiving holiday. How cool would it be to search for autumn fairies in the yard or build a fairy house with the acorns and other items that normally aren’t on the ground. Brainstorm outdoor activities that you and your family might enjoy.
9. Scavenger Hunt.
Going outside and getting exercise is great. You can also take advantage of all those people who put their Christmas decorations up early, those that have up fall décor and more. The best part of the scavenger hunt is that most people are at home, so it’s easier to play. Create a list and try a photo scavenger hunt.
An alternative to this is to create a scavenger hunt featuring knowledge about your family. Finding out facts about each other can lead to sharing a lot of stories.
10. Storyteller.
Telling stories, jokes, riddles and more allows multiple people to share and enjoy what others are sharing. Have a few ready to start off. You may want to limit the items to those specific to your family, the holiday or just let everyone be themselves.
11. Create.
If you (or certain family members) are creative, create your own game or activity. Be sure to document it in case you want to play again next year. This might be changing up the rules of Uno or creating an entirely new game.
Supplements
SUPP_Thanksgiving Activities_2in_12up_larajla
- Avery 2.5” round label printable, 12 up
SUPP_Thanksgiving Activities_Checklist_larajla
- Badge checklist
SUPP_Instruct Fun_List_Words_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Word list for Thanksgiving puzzles
SUPP_Play Fun_BINGO_Acorn_larajla
- Play Fun: ACORN Cards
SUPP_Play Fun_BINGO_Feast_larajla
- Play Fun: FEAST Cards
SUPP_Play Fun_BINGO_Thank_larajla
- Play Fun: THANK Cards
SUPP_Py Fun_PSH_Thanksgiving_larajlala
- Play Fun: Photo Scavenger Hunt – Thanksgiving
SUPP_Play Fun_ROLL_Turkey_larajla
- Play Fun: Roll-a-Turkey
SUPP_Play Fun_TTT_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Play Fun: Thanksgiving Tic-Tac-Toe
SUPP_Printable_IDEAS_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Printable: Thanksgiving Ideas
SUPP_Printable_TRAD_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Printable: Thanksgiving Traditions
SUPP_Puzzle Fun_SCR_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Puzzle Fun: Scramble for Thanksgiving
SUPP_Puzzle Fun_WF_Thanksgiving_larajla
- Puzzle Fun: Thanksgiving Word Find
SUPP_Puzzle Fun_WORD_Black Friday_larajla
- Puzzle Fun: Make words from “Black Friday”
SUPP_Puzzle Fun_WORD_Gobble_larajla
- Puzzle Fun: Make words from “Gobble, Gobble”
SUPP_Puzzle Fun_WORD_Thanksgiving Day_larajla
- Puzzle Fun: Make words from “Thanksgiving Day”
Unbored04_Family Trivia_425_55_24p_larajla
- Unbored Zine: Family Trivia
Sites to Explore
- www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/feast-thanksgiving-ideas-and-crafts
- rediscoveredfamilies.com/thanksgiving-activities
- howdoesshe.com/18-fun-thanksgiving-activities-for-kids
- www.familyeducation.com/fun/11-awesome-family-activities-thanksgiving-day
- www.familyeducation.com/pin-feathers-turkey
- www.playideas.com/25-thanksgiving-activities-for-kids
- www.womansday.com/relationships/family-friends/g1683/thanksgiving-games
- www.playpartyplan.com/30-great-thanksgiving-party-games
- www.thespruce.com/thanksgiving-games-for-kids-and-families-1356366
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