Finding thanksgiving games for kids indoor that actually hold their attention while you prep dinner is a struggle. I put this list together because most holiday activities require too much adult supervision or end up creating a massive mess in the kitchen.
If you need a way to keep the little ones happily occupied on turkey day, these craft-based activities are the answer. Watch out for the turkey bowling setup as you scroll, it’s a guaranteed hit.
1. Turkey Bowling
If you have a pile of empty water bottles in the recycling bin, put them to good use before the guests arrive.
Materials Needed
- 6 empty plastic water bottles
- Brown, yellow, and red construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue or double-sided tape
- A small lightweight ball
How to Set It Up
- Wrap each plastic bottle in brown construction paper and secure it with tape.
- Cut out small paper feathers, beaks, and snoods, then glue them onto the bottles along with the googly eyes.
- Set the decorated turkey bottles up in a triangle formation at the end of a hallway.
- Let the kids take turns rolling a soft ball to knock down as many as possible.
2. Stuff the Turkey Bag
When you need a quick distraction that costs zero dollars, grab a paper grocery bag.
Supplies You’ll Need
- 1 large brown paper grocery bag
- Markers or paint
- Scrap paper or cotton balls
Game Instructions
- Lay the brown bag flat and draw a large, funny turkey face on the front.
- Cut out simple wing shapes from scrap paper and attach them to the sides of the bag.
- Open the bag wide and place it a few feet away from a designated throwing line.
- Have the kids crumple up scrap paper or use cotton balls to toss inside the open bag.
3. Turkey Leg Ring Toss
Kids love anything that looks slightly silly, and giant cardboard drumsticks definitely fit the bill.
What to Gather
- 3 long cardboard paper towel tubes
- Brown kraft paper or packing paper
- White paper tape
- Paper plates
Assembly Steps
- Wrap the tops of the cardboard tubes in crumpled brown paper to create the meaty part of the drumstick.
- Wrap the bottom exposed tube in white tape to look like the bone.
- Stand the turkey legs up on the floor, leaning them against a box if they need support.
- Cut the centers out of paper plates and let the kids try to toss them over the turkey legs.
4. Pin the Feather on the Turkey
A holiday spin on a classic party activity works wonders when you have a mixed age group of cousins running around.
Crafting Materials
- 1 large sheet of white poster board
- Colored construction paper
- Scissors and markers
- Sticky tack or rolled tape
- A blindfold
How to Play
- Draw and cut out a large, featherless turkey body from the poster board and tape it to a wall.
- Cut out several long feather shapes from the colored paper and put tape on the backs.
- Blindfold one child at a time, spin them gently, and point them toward the turkey.
- See who can stick their feather closest to the turkey’s tail area.
5. Turkey Baster Feather Relay
Borrowing a kitchen tool makes this race feel extra special to toddlers and young children.
Gather These Items
- Clean turkey basters
- Lightweight craft feathers or paper cutouts
- Masking tape
Setting Up the Race
- Create a starting line and a finish line on the floor using strips of masking tape.
- If you don’t have real craft feathers, quickly cut feather shapes out of tissue paper.
- Give each child a turkey baster and place their feather on the starting line.
- They must squeeze the baster to blow air at the feather, racing it across the finish line.
6. Wobbly Pumpkin Roll
Creating a ball that doesn’t roll straight turns a simple living room race into a hilarious challenge.
Required Supplies
- Tennis balls or small blocks
- Orange tissue paper or construction paper
- Rubber bands or tape
Making the Pumpkins
- Wrap tennis balls or uneven blocks in layers of orange paper so they look lumpy.
- Secure the paper tightly at the top with a rubber band to look like a pumpkin stem.
- Clear a large space on the living room floor.
- Challenge the kids to roll their uneven pumpkins across the room using only one hand.
7. Turkey Slider
Stringing up a track across the room keeps the action contained while letting them burn off some competitive energy.
Project Materials
- Plastic drinking cups
- String or yarn
- Tape and markers
- Paper scraps
Construction Steps
- Poke a hole in the bottom of two plastic cups and thread a long piece of string through each.
- Decorate the cups with marker faces and taped-on paper feathers.
- Tie one end of the strings to a chair and have two kids hold the other ends tight.
- They can push or blow their turkey cups down the string to see who reaches the chair first.
8. Feather Poke-a-Cup
The suspense of punching through tissue paper to find a hidden prize makes this a huge hit with the younger crowd.
Supply List
- 10-15 plastic or paper cups
- A large piece of flat cardboard
- Tissue paper
- Hot glue
- Small prizes or candy
Crafting the Game Board
- Glue the bottoms of the empty cups to the flat cardboard base in a grid pattern.
- Drop a small piece of candy, a sticker, or a tiny toy into each cup.
- Cut squares of tissue paper and secure them tightly over the top of each cup using rubber bands.
- Let the kids take turns poking their fingers through the tissue paper to claim a prize.
9. Gratitude Leaf Toss
Sneaking a little thankfulness into playtime is a sweet way to celebrate the holiday’s true meaning.
What You Need
- Cardboard pieces
- Brown paint or markers
- Colored paper leaves
- Paperclips
Building the Tree
- Cut out a simple tree trunk with branches from cardboard and fold the base so it stands up on a table.
- Cut out paper leaves and have the kids draw something they are thankful for on each one.
- Attach a paperclip to each leaf to give it a little bit of weight.
- Have the kids stand back and try to toss their heavy leaves into the cardboard branches.
10. Candy Corn Spoon Race
Testing their balance with tiny seasonal treats forces everyone to slow down for a few minutes.
Materials to Grab
- Wooden craft spoons or regular kitchen spoons
- Candy corn
- Washhi tape or markers
Creating the Course
- Let the kids decorate their wooden spoons with tape or markers to make them unique.
- Set up a simple obstacle course around the house using pillows or stacks of books.
- Place a few pieces of candy corn on each spoon.
- Kids must navigate the obstacles without dropping their candy on the floor.
11. Cupcake Liner Memory Match
Expanding a traditional memory game to take up the whole floor space makes it feel like a brand new activity.
Items Required
- 20 patterned cupcake liners
- A marker
- Stickers or small stamps
Game Setup
- Flatten all the cupcake liners out so they look like flat paper circles.
- On the plain underside of the liners, draw pairs of matching autumn shapes or use identical stickers.
- Mix them up and lay them out facedown on the living room rug.
- Kids take turns flipping two at a time to find the matching turkey or harvest symbols.
12. Cranberry Tower Constructor
Older kids who like building will get completely absorbed in trying to make the tallest structure out of leftover produce.
Supply Checklist
- A bag of fresh cranberries
- A box of wooden toothpicks
- A flat tray or hard surface
Engineering Instructions
- Pour the cranberries into a bowl and place the toothpicks on a flat tray.
- Show them how to poke a toothpick firmly into a cranberry to connect it to another.
- Encourage them to build square or triangular bases for stability.
- Challenge them to see who can build the tallest free-standing tower before it tips over.
13. Mayflower Foil Boat Race
Setting up a small water bin on a towel provides a surprisingly calm and focused sensory activity.
Gathering Supplies
- Aluminum foil
- A shallow plastic bin
- Water
- Plastic straws
Making the Boats
- Give each child a square of aluminum foil and help them fold up the edges to create a little boat.
- Fill a shallow plastic storage bin with a few inches of water and place it on a floor towel.
- Float the boats at one end of the water bin.
- Give them straws to blow air at their ships and race them across the water.
14. Turkey Tail Clothespin Tag
If they are bouncing off the walls, let them run off that energy with a wearable game of tag.
Crafting Materials
- Wooden clothespins
- Colored paper or craft feathers
- Glue
How to Assemble
- Cut out small paper feathers or use real craft feathers if you have them on hand.
- Glue one feather to the flat side of each wooden clothespin and let them dry completely.
- Clip three or four “feathers” onto the back of each child’s shirt.
- They must chase each other around safely and try to pull the feathers off everyone else’s shirts.
15. Beaded Indian Corn Pitch
Working with small beads acts as a great fine motor exercise before the tossing game even begins.
Everything You Need
- Tan or brown pipe cleaners
- Multicolored pony beads
- A thick piece of cardboard
- Hot glue (for adult use)
Crafting the Cobs
- Have the kids string the pony beads onto the pipe cleaners, leaving a little room at the ends.
- Twist 3 or 4 beaded pipe cleaners together at the top and bottom to form a thick ear of corn.
- Use hot glue to stand the corn cobs upright on a heavy piece of cardboard.
- Use leftover pipe cleaners shaped into circles as rings for tossing over the corn.
FAQs
What age group are these crafts best for?
Most of these ideas are highly adaptable and work well for kids aged 3 to 10. Toddlers will enjoy the sensory activities like the bag toss, while older kids will prefer building tasks like the cranberry towers.
Can I substitute materials if I don’t have exactly what’s listed?
Absolutely. The goal is to use what you already have in the house so you don’t need to run to the store.
| Original Item | Easy Household Substitute |
| Googly eyes | Black marker circles |
| Craft feathers | Tissue paper or scrap paper cutouts |
| Wooden toothpicks | Dry spaghetti noodles |
| Pony beads | Dry tube pasta (like penne) |
How do I prevent a mess in the house?
Keep water activities in a bin on top of a thick towel and restrict running games to carpeted areas. For painting or gluing, throw down a cheap plastic tablecloth before they start crafting.
Keeping the family entertained doesn’t have to mean resorting to screens all afternoon. These hands-on crafts provide hours of fun and double as festive decorations you can proudly display around the house.
If you found this list helpful, be sure to save this post to your holiday ideas board on Pinterest. You will definitely want to keep these simple craft games handy for next year!