Thanksgiving Games for Kids usually mean handing them a coloring page and hoping they stay quiet for ten minutes. I put this list together because most families need actual activities that burn off energy or keep little hands busy while the turkey finishes roasting.
If you’re looking for ways to entertain a large group of cousins or just need a simple indoor setup, these DIY craft games take minimal prep and actually hold their attention.
1. Turkey Feather Ring Toss
When you have a large group of cousins running around, you need something physical. Building this target game out of cardboard is just as fun as playing it.
Supplies you will need
- Large cardboard boxes
- Paint and brushes
- Empty paper towel tubes
- Rope rings or glow necklaces
How to put it together
First, cut out a giant turkey shape from your leftover delivery boxes. Paint it with bright fall colors and let it dry completely.
Next, glue the empty paper towel tubes standing upright on the turkey’s tail to act as feathers. Set it up in the living room, and let the kids try to loop their rings over the tubes for points.
2. Feed the Turkey Box Game
For a quick indoor activity, repurposing a shoe box saves money and keeps toddlers occupied. It works perfectly for preschool ages who love throwing things.
Materials to gather
- One empty shoe box
- Construction paper
- Glue and scissors
- Brown felt for acorns
Step-by-step assembly
Wrap the shoe box in brown paper and decorate it to look like a friendly turkey face. Cut a wide opening where the beak should be so there is a clear target.
Have the children craft simple felt acorns or use small rolled-up socks to toss directly into the turkey’s mouth.
3. Pumpkin Bowling Set
If the weather keeps everyone inside, turning your hallway into a bowling alley is a lifesaver. This simple upcycling project gives empty water bottles a second life.
What you need
- Six empty plastic water bottles
- Orange construction paper
- Green pipe cleaners
- A small rubber ball
How to build and play
Wrap each plastic bottle tightly in orange construction paper, securing it with tape. Twist a green pipe cleaner around the top cap to mimic a pumpkin stem.
Set up the six bottles in a triangle formation at the end of a long hallway. Kids can roll a small ball to knock down as many “pumpkins” as possible.
4. Pilgrim Hat Tic-Tac-Toe
Sometimes you just need a quiet activity at the dinner table before the food is served. This tactile version of a classic game is great for elementary kids.
Craft supplies required
- A large square of felt for the board
- White fabric marker
- Black craft foam
- Colorful tissue paper
Making the game pieces
Use the white marker to draw a large tic-tac-toe grid onto the felt square. Cut out five miniature pilgrim hats from the black craft foam.
Next, twist and glue colorful tissue paper into five small turkey shapes. Kids can challenge each other using the hats and turkeys as their game pieces.
5. Turkey Balloon Waddle
Trying to keep kids from running through the kitchen can be tough. This active game keeps them moving but in a controlled, hilarious way.
Items for the race
- Orange balloons
- Fall leaf garland
- Painter’s tape
Setting up the track
Use the painter’s tape to mark a clear starting and finish line down a hallway or across the yard. Drape the fall leaf garland along the borders to make it feel festive.
Kids have to place an orange balloon between their knees and waddle to the finish line without dropping it. If the balloon falls, they have to start over.
6. Stuff the Turkey Craft
Racing against the clock always brings out the competitive side in family members. This minute to win style challenge requires very little setup.
What to gather
- Large brown paper grocery bags
- Markers and googly eyes
- Stacks of old newspapers or scrap paper
Game instructions
Have the kids decorate their brown paper bags with markers and giant googly eyes to look like turkeys. Give each player a massive stack of scrap paper.
Set a timer for one minute and see who can crumple the most paper balls to “stuff” their turkey bag to the top.
7. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Getting everyone outdoors for some fresh air is a great way to break up the afternoon. This works beautifully for church groups or family gatherings.
Scavenger supplies
- Sturdy clipboards
- Autumn-themed stickers
- Printed checklists
- Pencils attached with string
How to play
Let the kids decorate their clipboards using the autumn stickers before the hunt begins. Clip a printed list featuring things like “a red leaf,” “a smooth stone,” or “something you are thankful for.”
Send them into the backyard to find and check off every item on their personalized list.
8. Turkey Feather Memory Match
Floor games are a fantastic way to engage younger toddlers and preschool children. Memory matching helps them practice focus while having fun.
Crafting the game
- Thick craft foam sheets in various colors
- Scissors
- A permanent marker
Putting it into action
Cut out twenty identical feather shapes from the colored craft foam. On the back of each pair, draw matching simple symbols like a pumpkin, pie, or acorn.
Lay all the feathers face down on the living room rug. Kids take turns flipping two over at a time to find the matching pairs.
9. Wobbling Turkey Balance Game
Patience is tricky for excited kids, but stacking games force them to slow down. This is perfect for setting up on the coffee table.
Materials needed
- 20-30 paper cups
- Brown acrylic paint
- Yellow and red construction paper scraps
Building the pyramid
Spend the morning painting the cups brown and gluing on tiny paper beaks and wattles. Once dry, challenge the kids to stack them into a massive pyramid.
The real game starts when they have to carefully remove one cup at a time without causing the whole turkey tower to collapse.
10. Roll-a-Turkey Build
Dice games are excellent for keeping elementary kids engaged while sneaking in a little math. It is completely free if you use scraps from your craft drawer.
What to prepare
- White paper plates
- Pre-cut construction paper feathers, beaks, and feet
- Googly eyes
- A standard playing dice
The rules of the game
Assign a specific craft piece to each number on the dice (e.g., rolling a 1 gets you a feather, rolling a 2 gets you eyes). Give each child a blank paper plate as their base.
They take turns rolling the dice and collecting the pieces until someone completely builds their turkey face.
11. Cornucopia Bean Bag Toss
Finding free activities for a classroom party often means making the props yourself. A homemade cornucopia makes a brilliant and sturdy target.
Crafting the setup
- Large sheet of thick brown poster board
- Stapler and heavy tape
- Scrap fabric and dried beans or rice
Assembly and gameplay
Roll the thick poster board into a large cone shape to mimic a cornucopia, securing it tightly with staples and tape. Sew or glue small scrap fabric squares filled with dried beans to create the throwing bags.
Set the cone on the floor and have the kids toss the bean bags directly into the wide opening.
12. Turkey Feather Blow Race
When you need an activity that requires zero heavy lifting, this is a winner. It is surprisingly competitive and generates a lot of laughs.
Gathering supplies
- Lightweight tissue paper
- Scissors
- Plastic or reusable drinking straws
- Painter’s tape
Setting the track
Cut the tissue paper into several fluffy, lightweight feather shapes. Use the painter’s tape to mark a start and finish line across your longest dining table.
Each player gets a straw and must blow their tissue paper feather across the table finish line without using their hands.
13. Mini Pumpkin Spoon Relay
Backyard games are the best way to let kids burn off that sugar rush from pie. This fall twist on the classic egg relay is much less messy.
Things you will need
- Wooden cooking spoons
- Fall-colored ribbons
- Real miniature pumpkins (the tiny decorative ones)
How to host the race
Tie a few festive ribbons around the handles of the wooden spoons to make them feel special. Hand one spoon to each child and place a mini pumpkin on the curved end.
They have to race across the grass while balancing the pumpkin. If it drops, they stop and put it back before moving forward.
14. Glow-in-the-Dark Turkey Hunt
As the sun sets early in November, keeping the fun going indoors can be a challenge. This glowing search game feels like an absolute adventure for kids.
What to grab
- Plastic fillable eggs
- Miniature glow sticks
- A black permanent marker
Setting the scene
Draw silly turkey faces on the outside of the plastic eggs using the black marker. Snap the mini glow sticks and place one inside each egg before snapping them shut.
Turn off all the lights in the basement or living room and hide the glowing eggs for the kids to hunt down.
15. Turkey Tail Feather Pluck
If the kids are practically bouncing off the walls, give them a reason to run. This variation of tag is easy to set up and very active.
Preparation materials
- Wooden clothespins
- Hot glue gun
- Faux craft feathers
Playing the game
Hot glue a brightly colored faux feather to the top of several wooden clothespins. Clip three or four of these “tail feathers” onto the back of each child’s shirt.
On the count of three, they run around trying to pluck the feathers off each other’s backs while keeping their own safe.
16. Acorn Sorting Board
Toddlers love organizing things, and this tactile activity keeps them quietly focused. It’s a wonderful DIY option for a cozy afternoon.
Sorting supplies
- A flat piece of sturdy cardboard
- Small shallow boxes or plastic cups
- Real or wooden acorns
- Non-toxic paint and wooden tongs
Creating the station
Glue the small boxes onto the flat cardboard to create sorting bins, painting the bottom of each bin a different color. Paint batches of acorns to match the colors of the bins.
Hand the toddler a pair of wooden tongs and let them practice their fine motor skills by placing the acorns in the correct matching bins.
17. Pass the Thanksgiving Parcel
Sitting in a circle usually leads to squirming, but wrapped presents change everything. This game combines unboxing with silly family tasks.
Wrapping the parcel
- One small craft prize or treat
- Multiple layers of festive tissue paper
- Paper slips with written prompts
How the game works
Wrap the small prize in a layer of tissue paper, then tape a prompt (like “gobble like a turkey” or “hug your grandma”) to it, and wrap it again. Keep adding layers and prompts until you have a large ball.
Play some music while the kids pass it around. When the music stops, the child holding it peels off one layer and performs the prompt.
18. Mayflower Styrofoam Boat Race
A little water play is always a huge hit, even if it has to stay in a container. Constructing the boats requires just enough focus to calm them down.
Boat building materials
- Small styrofoam blocks or recycled meat trays
- Toothpicks or wooden skewers
- White craft paper
- A large plastic storage tub filled with water
Race instructions
Have the children cut sails out of the white paper and thread them onto the toothpicks. Poke the toothpick masts directly into the styrofoam bases to create tiny ships.
Place them in the water-filled storage tub and let the kids blow on the sails to race them from one side to the other.
FAQs
What age group are these games best for?
These DIY activities cover a wide range of ages. The sorting and matching games are perfect for preschoolers, while the minute-to-win challenges and relay races will keep elementary-aged kids highly engaged.
Do I need to buy expensive craft supplies?
Not at all. Most of these ideas rely on things you already have around the house, like empty boxes, paper towel tubes, cardboard, and leftover craft scraps.
Can these be played indoors if the weather is bad?
Yes, almost all of these setups are designed with indoor spaces in mind. The hallway bowling and balloon waddles are great ways to burn energy safely inside the house.
Most holidays feel chaotic, but having a few structured, hands-on activities ready makes a massive difference. When you put a little effort into the setup, kids feel included and you actually get a few minutes of peace to enjoy the day.
If you loved these simple ideas, save this post to your Thanksgiving party ideas board on Pinterest. That way, you will have all these instructions ready the moment the kids start saying they are bored!