Easy, Screen-Free Ways to Keep Little Hands Busy and Make Thanksgiving Extra Special

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family, enjoying delicious food, and making memories together. But if you’re hosting Thanksgiving with kids, you also know there’s one important question to answer:
How are we going to keep the kids entertained without screen time?

Between preparing Thanksgiving dinner, visiting with family, and waiting for the turkey to be ready, kids can have a lot of downtime on Thanksgiving Day. Having a few activities planned ahead of time can help keep kids off the t.v.’s or tablets and make the day more enjoyable for everyone — and they don’t have to be complicated or expensive!

From Thanksgiving crafts and coloring to bingo, baking, and silly family games, I’ve rounded up some fun Thanksgiving activities for kids that can help keep little hands busy while creating memories along the way.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

1. Play Thanksgiving Bingo

Bingo is one of those simple activities that almost everyone can enjoy, making it a great choice when you have children of different ages celebrating together.

A set of Thanksgiving Bingo Cards (ad) makes setting up the game especially easy. Instead of numbers, kids can look for Thanksgiving-themed pictures like turkeys, pumpkins, fall leaves, pies, and other seasonal favorites.

You could play a few rounds while Thanksgiving dinner is cooking or use it as an after-dinner family activity.

Thrifty Tip: Pick up a bag of candy corn or another inexpensive fall candy and use the pieces as bingo markers. Just don’t be surprised if a few markers disappear during the game!

2. Set Up a Giant Thanksgiving Coloring Table

Need an activity that can entertain several kids at the same time?

Spread a Giant Thanksgiving Coloring Poster/Tablecloth (ad) across the kids’ table and add crayons or washable markers.

Kids can color a little at a time throughout the day, and because everyone contributes to the same picture, it becomes a fun group project.
It’s also a great activity to have waiting for children when they arrive. Instead of immediately hearing, “What can we do?” they’ll have something ready to keep them busy.

3. Make Thanksgiving Fridge Magnets

Crafting is one of my favorite ways to keep kids occupied during holiday gatherings because they get both an activity and something they can take home afterward.

The Thanksgiving Turkey DIY Fridge Magnet Craft Kit (ad) includes adorable Thanksgiving designs kids can color and turn into magnets.

Once they’re finished, kids can proudly display their creations on the refrigerator at home or give one to a grandparent as a little Thanksgiving keepsake.

4. Have a Thanksgiving Trivia Competition

Get the whole family involved with some friendly competition!

A Thanksgiving Trivia for Kids & Adults book (ad) is perfect for turning Thanksgiving into a family game night. Divide everyone into teams and see who knows the most about Thanksgiving, American history, and holiday traditions.

Mixing adults and kids on each team can make the game even more fun. You can even have a small prize ready for the winning team.

5. Bake and Decorate Thanksgiving Cookies

Sometimes the best activities are the ones you can eat afterward!

Use a set of Thanksgiving Cookie Cutters (ad) to turn homemade or store-bought sugar cookie dough into festive fall shapes such as pumpkins, turkeys, leaves, squirrels, acorns, and more.

Once they’re baked and cooled, set up a simple cookie-decorating station with:
Vanilla frosting (ad)
Fall-colored sprinkles (ad)
Food coloring (ad)
Disposable plates or parchment paper (ad)

The Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting (ad) and Sweets Indeed Fall Sprinkles (ad) from my list make this especially easy.

For younger children, you can frost the cookies ahead of time and simply let them add the sprinkles.

Thrifty Tip: You don’t have to make everything from scratch! Using refrigerated cookie dough or premade frosting can turn this into a much easier holiday activity while still giving kids the fun part — decorating.

6. Make Turkey Crowns

Why wear a regular party hat when you can be a Thanksgiving turkey?

The DIY Thanksgiving Turkey Crown Craft Kit (ad) lets kids create their own colorful turkey crowns to wear during the celebration.

Set up a little craft station before guests arrive and let each child decorate their crown. Once everyone is finished, gather all your little turkeys together for a Thanksgiving photo.
Those pictures may end up being some of your favorites from the entire day!

7. Play Pin the Tail on the Turkey

Give the classic birthday-party game a Thanksgiving makeover with Pin the Tail on the Turkey (ad).

Hang the turkey poster on a wall, blindfold each player, give them a turkey tail, spin them around, and see who can get their tail closest to the correct spot.

It’s simple, silly, and a great way to get kids moving after they’ve been sitting at the table.
This is especially useful if you’re looking for Thanksgiving activities that don’t involve another screen.

8. Guess How Many

This is an incredibly easy activity to have running throughout your Thanksgiving celebration.

Use a Thanksgiving Guess How Many Game (ad) and fill a clear container with something festive, such as candy corn, fall-colored chocolates, mini marshmallows, or wrapped candies.

Let everyone write down their guess.
At the end of the day, reveal the answer. Whoever comes closest without going over wins the jar — or another small prize.

And don’t limit this one to the kids. The adults will probably want to make a guess too!

9. Make Turkey Coasters

For another craft that doubles as a keepsake, have kids make their own Thanksgiving turkey coasters.

The Turkey Coaster Craft Kits (ad) are a fun option for a quieter activity, particularly while everyone is waiting for dinner.

Once they’re complete, children have something they can take home and use after Thanksgiving is over.

You could also have kids write their name and the year on the back. Pulling their handmade turkey coaster out again next Thanksgiving makes it even more special.

10. Play Thanksgiving Mad Libs

If your family loves to laugh, bring out Gobble Gobble Mad Libs (ad).

Kids supply different nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other words without knowing exactly how they’ll fit into the story. Once everything is filled in, read the completed Thanksgiving story aloud. The sillier the answers, the better!

It’s also a sneaky way for school-age kids to practice parts of speech without it feeling like schoolwork.

11. Create Your Own Turkey With Stickers

For younger children, sometimes the simplest activities are the biggest hits.

A DIY Turkey Sticker Craft (ad) lets kids mix and match Thanksgiving-themed pieces to create their own funny turkey designs.

This is an especially good activity to put at the kids’ table because it doesn’t require a lot of supplies or complicated instructions.

You could even display everyone’s finished turkeys and let the family vote on categories like Silliest Turkey, Most Colorful Turkey, and Most Creative Turkey. That way, everyone can be a winner!

12. Create a Thanksgiving Kids’ Activity Station

Instead of pulling out activities one at a time, consider creating a designated Thanksgiving Kids’ Activity Station.

Use a small table, basket, or rolling cart and fill it with a few of the activities above. Add crayons, washable markers, pencils, glue sticks, and other basic craft supplies you already have at home.

Kids can move between activities throughout the day whenever they need something to do.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need every activity on this list.

Choose two or three that work for your children’s ages and your Thanksgiving plans. A coloring activity, one craft, and one family game could easily provide plenty of entertainment without spending a fortune.
That’s what The Thrifty Thriver is all about — finding affordable ways to make everyday life (and the holidays!) a little more enjoyable.

Shop Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

I’ve put the Thanksgiving games, crafts, baking supplies, and other activity ideas featured in this post together in one convenient Amazon list.

Shop My Thanksgiving Activities for Kids Amazon List⁠👇

https://a.co/d/07S1pcLU

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Make Thanksgiving About the Memories
The Thanksgiving meal may be what brings everyone to the table, but the little moments throughout the day are often what we remember most.

Decorating a ridiculous turkey cookie, watching Grandma attempt to pin a tail on a turkey, wearing homemade turkey crowns around the dinner table, or laughing until everyone cries over a Thanksgiving Mad Lib can become part of your family’s holiday traditions.

You don’t need an elaborate schedule or an expensive Thanksgiving celebration. A few simple activities, some good food, and time spent together can make the day feel special.
Happy Thanksgiving from The Thrifty Thriver! 🦃🍂