Crafts, games, movies and more: Finding creative ways to celebrate gratitude can put a fresh spin on the holiday
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family, gratitude, and togetherness. But why not add a fresh spin to your family’s traditions this year? Kids love when something feels new, especially when they get to be part of creating it! Here are some ideas to help them embrace the holiday in fun, meaningful ways that go beyond the typical feast.
Let them lead the cooking
Kids get a thrill from being in charge, especially in the kitchen. This Thanksgiving, invite them to help choose the recipes or even come up with a new dish of their own. Maybe they want to take on mashed potatoes with their own twist—adding something unexpected like garlic, chives, or a dash of cheese. For older kids, try a cooking challenge where they “remix” a classic recipe into something unique, like making mini stuffing muffins instead of the usual casserole. Not only does this give them a sense of ownership, but they’ll also feel like they’ve really contributed to the family meal.
Create a “thankful tree”
This is a twist on the classic “What are you thankful for?” question but with a visual and interactive element. Set up a small tree branch in a vase, and have everyone cut out leaves from colored paper. Every day leading up to Thanksgiving, family members write down something they’re grateful for on a leaf and attach it to the tree. By Thanksgiving Day, you’ll have a full, colorful display of everyone’s thoughts and feelings. Kids love seeing their contributions add up over time, and it’s a reminder to focus on gratitude beyond just one day. Plus, you can make this an annual tradition and even save the leaves from each year to look back on.
Have a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt
If your kids are little adventurers, try a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt! You can make it educational, too, with clues that focus on different aspects of the holiday—like finding an item that reminds them of a harvest, something brown like a turkey, or something they’re grateful for. This can be done indoors if the weather’s chilly or outside in your yard or a nearby park. To make it a group activity, invite family friends or neighbors to join in. A scavenger hunt adds a bit of activity to the day and lets kids burn off some energy before the big meal.
Host a family talent show
Thanksgiving can be a long day for kids, so adding some fun, engaging entertainment can be just the thing to break up the monotony. Organize a family talent show where everyone has a few minutes to showcase a skill, whether it’s singing, dancing, telling jokes, or performing magic tricks. Kids will love preparing their act and watching their family members’ hidden talents. It’s also a great way to bring everyone together in a more casual, lighthearted way.
Encourage kid-friendly gratitude crafts
Make gratitude a hands-on activity by involving your kids in creating decorations that also share what they’re thankful for. A fun option is “gratitude place mats” where each family member writes or draws what they’re grateful for on a piece of craft paper. These can be laminated to use during the meal. Or, try making “gratitude rocks” by painting stones with symbols of things each person appreciates. These crafts keep little hands busy and provide visual reminders of everyone’s gratitude.
Explore your family’s heritage
Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to connect with your roots. Why not teach your kids a bit about your family’s background? This could be as simple as adding a traditional dish from your culture to the Thanksgiving table, or sharing family stories and pictures. You could even make a family tree together as a visual way to learn about family history. Kids often love learning about “where they come from,” and it adds an extra layer of meaning to the celebration.
Have a Thanksgiving movie marathon
Wind down the evening with a movie marathon featuring Thanksgiving-themed films, or go for feel-good classics that are family-friendly. Set up a cozy spot with blankets, pillows, and some holiday snacks. This gives everyone a chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company after the excitement of the day.
Try a community service activity
If your kids are old enough, involve them in a small act of giving back. Volunteering as a family, whether at a local food bank or by helping out at a community center, can be a powerful experience for kids. Or keep it simple by baking treats to deliver to a neighbor or creating cards for residents of a local nursing home. By focusing on giving as well as gratitude, you can help kids see the holiday as a time to help others as well as appreciate what they have.
Adding new traditions to Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to make the holiday feel special for everyone in the family, especially kids.