The holidays are a great time to mix up play activities for your little ones, and there is so much fun to be had with Thanksgiving themed activities that can be enjoyed in the run up to the holidays.
From sensory bins to building turkeys out of play dough, these activities are ideal for kindergarten, toddlers and beyond. Take inspiration from the 23 ideas below to build out your own activities this year.
23 Fun & Educational Thanksgiving Activities For Toddlers
1.Word Family Turkey Craft
Gobble, gobble! Turkeys are a great place to start when it comes to Thanksgiving play ideas, and there’s so many things you can do with them.
This family turkey word craft is an educational, yet fun twist on teaching little ones their ‘at’ sounds, get them to fill in the blanks, repeat and remember the words, tailor the activity depending on their age.
2. Thanksgiving Foods Word Matching
Get them excited for the holidays with a super cute Thanksgiving foods word matching game like the below.
Grab a free printable online or create your own one by hand.
3. Indian Corn Craft
This crafty idea will help to boost hand eye co-ordination and fine motor skills! You’ll need pipe cleaners, craft sticks and fall colored beads for this Indian corn crafting activity.
4. Handprint Turkey Art
A charming Thanksgiving craft which is perfect for kids to create festive decorations or personalized cards.
Simply use paint to turn handprints into colorful turkey feathers, adding a touch of creativity and fun to your holiday celebrations.
5. Thanksgiving Card
Another extension of hand printing, but in foot form! This activity is suitable for kids of all ages so the whole family can get involved.
Gift the cards to those who you and your family are grateful for, this could be to your caregivers, nannies, teachers, daycare workers and more!
6. Thanksgiving Puzzles
Engage kids in this fun and educational activity by creating a personalized turkey-themed name puzzle. Simply print, cut, and mix up the pieces for children to reassemble, helping them practice spelling their names while enjoying the holiday spirit.
This craft is perfect for classroom or at-home learning.
7. Turkey Play Dough
Who doesn’t love a play dough activity! This adorable turkey play dough activity is a super fun way to get your kids ready for the holiday.
You’ll need some brown playdough (but it could be any color you have available), feathers, googly eyes and any other crafting bits you have to hand that they can use for decorating.
8. Turkey Crafts
Create festive turkey place settings using a paper towel roll and half of a paper plate (don’t use empty toilet rolls!).
Cut 1-2 inch slits on each side of the roll, then decorate the plate with feathers, sticks, crayons, or watercolors. Once dry, slide the decorated plate into the slits on the roll to form the turkey’s tail. Add googly eyes and a beak to the roll for a fun and colorful addition to your Thanksgiving table, kids will love contributing something to the table setting.
9. Turkey Made Up of Snacks!
Combine creativity with a tasty treat by making these adorable snack-filled turkeys!
Use a clean, clear glove, and fill the fingers with colorful goldfish crackers for feathers and the palm with popcorn for the turkey’s body.
Add a googly eye and an orange pipe cleaner for the beak and legs to complete this fun and edible Thanksgiving project. Perfect for kids’ table settings or as a delightful snack activity.
10. Roll And Dot A Turkey
Combine learning and play with this Thanksgiving-themed early math activity.
Draw an outline of a turkey’s body and write numbers 1-6 around it. Have your child roll a dice and use dot markers or stickers to fill in the corresponding numbered “feathers” around the turkey.
This simple game is a fun way to practice number recognition and counting while adding a festive touch to learning.
11. Turkey Trouble
If you’re looking for a fun story book for the holidays, Turkey Trouble is a perfect pick!
It’s a cute, fun story book that is an excellent read for the holidays.
12. Turkey Invites
Get creative with this textured turkey craft using a paper plate as the base. Cover the plate with shredded paper or crinkle paper to give the turkey a fun, fluffy look.
Add colorful paper feathers, big googly eyes, and a bright orange beak to complete the design. This is a great Thanksgiving project for kids to express their creativity while making a cute turkey decoration.
13. Pin A Feather On The Turkey
Add a Thanksgiving twist to a classic party game with “Pin a Feather on the Turkey.” Using a colander as the base, kids can take turns pinning colorful feathers onto a turkey cutout.
This fun and interactive game is perfect for holiday parties and helps develop fine motor skills while adding a festive flair to your celebrations.
14. Turkey Pancake Time
Create a twist on the classic pancake breakfast by getting kids involved! Get them involved with mixing up the batter to flipping the pancakes (with close supervision!).
Add a fun turkey twist to them by adding streaky bacon and a face to the pancakes.
15. Thanksgiving Food Play
Enhance listening and communication skills with this engaging Thanksgiving plate sorting activity.
Using three different colored plates and various cutouts of traditional Thanksgiving foods, children can practice following directions by selecting specific food items as requested.
This activity encourages active listening, vocabulary development, and is a fun way to discuss favorite holiday dishes.
16. Pumpkin Pie Sensory Bin
Delight your little ones with a pumpkin pie sensory bin that combines texture, play, and learning.
Fill mini pie tins with oats, mini pumpkins, and cotton balls to mimic the ingredients of a pie. This activity encourages sensory exploration and imaginative play.
Pair this sensory bin with the book Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by America’s Test Kitchen for a fun, themed reading session that brings the story to life and makes the experience even more engaging for young readers.
17. Thanksgiving Dinner Sensory Bin
Create a festive and engaging play experience with a Thanksgiving dinner sensory bin.
Fill a large container with dried beans to simulate a hearty meal base, then add play food items representing traditional Thanksgiving dishes, along with miniature dishes and utensils.
Children can enjoy scooping, pouring, and arranging the food, using their imagination to prepare and serve a special dinner for the adults.
This activity promotes sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and creative pretend play, making it a delightful addition to your holiday festivities.
18. Turkey Table Favours
These adorable turkey table favors are a fun and festive addition to your Thanksgiving celebration. Made from brown paper bags, each turkey is decorated with googly eyes, a beak, and colorful feathers, making them both cute and customizable.
Fill them with treats or small gifts, and place them at each guest’s seat to bring a smile to their faces. This craft is easy to make and adds a playful touch to your holiday table.
19. Turkey Feather Counting
This fun and educational Thanksgiving activity helps young children practice counting while engaging in a creative craft.
Using playdough to form turkey bodies, kids can count and add colorful feathers to each turkey, matching the number displayed on a mat or board. This hands-on activity enhances number recognition, fine motor skills, and provides a festive way to learn and play during the holiday season.
Perfect for preschool or early elementary children.
20. Cranberry Pie Sensory Bin
Dive into the holiday spirit with a cranberry pie sensory bin!
Simply fill a bin with fresh cranberries, add water, and provide tools like scoops, spoons, and mini pie pans. Children can enjoy the tactile experience of scooping, pouring, and pretending to make their own cranberry pies.
This activity encourages sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and imaginative play, making it a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving preparations.
21. Turkey Watercolors
This vibrant and fizzy art project combines science and creativity for a fun Thanksgiving activity.
Using a shallow tray, sprinkle baking soda over the surface, then place a cardboard turkey body in the center. Add liquid watercolors to vinegar and use pipettes to drop the colorful mixture onto the baking soda.
Watch as the colors fizz and spread, creating a beautiful watercolor effect around the turkey. This activity not only results in a stunning piece of art but also introduces kids to basic chemical reactions in a playful way.
22. Turkey Tasters
Create these adorable and tasty turkey treats for your Thanksgiving celebration! Start with brownie bites, dip them in melted chocolate, and then add an Oreo cookie as the tail.
Use candy decorations to give the turkeys eyes, a beak, and a wattle. These sweet and simple turkey brownie bites are perfect for a festive dessert that kids can help make and everyone will enjoy.
23. Pumpkin Pie In A Cup
Combine a fun and tasty treat with a learning opportunity by making pumpkin pie in a cup. Students can layer pumpkin filling, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a clear cup for a simple and delicious dessert. To make the activity more educational, have students complete a “How To” writing assignment, guiding them through the steps of making the pie.
This hands-on activity not only teaches sequencing and procedural writing but also gives kids a sweet reward for their hard work. Perfect for incorporating a festive touch into your classroom lessons.
Save your favorite Thanksgiving activity ideas for later!
