Thanksgiving is such a tricky holiday. It seems like it was really made for adults, but there are some fun and easy Thanksgiving activities for toddlers that you can start including in your Thanksgiving traditions.
You can make your toddler feel like they are part of the fun and can look forward to Thanksgiving each year (well, until they are no longer a toddler).
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Are There Easy Toddler Activities For Thanksgiving?
Absolutely! Just because they are toddlers, doesn’t mean they can’t have fun for Thanksgiving AND that it doesn’t have to be hard. You can absolutely create simple and fun activities for your toddler this Thanksgiving.
What Types of Activities Are Good For Toddlers?
Toddlers are really working on developing their fine motor skills, so anything they can do that involves work with their hands is super helpful in their development. They also learn a lot through play and activity, so doing a simple craft or activity with them can really help them grow and learn.
You can incorporate both these things into your Thanksgiving activities and traditions.
Fun Thanksgiving Activities For Toddlers
There are a variety of different activities you can do with your toddler this Thanksgiving. The list below includes a lot of simple crafts and activities you can do with both your toddler and as a family. Some of these activities include the older kids as well.
Tablecloth
Include your toddler and kids in your meal prep. Have them make the tablecloth. You could do two different things:
- Have them create a table runner with their handprints. They could even turn the handprints into turkeys. Use this as your centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner.
- Use paper for the tablecloth and let them color and draw on it during dinner. This way they can enjoy dinner and mom and dad might be able to finish their meal.
Hand Turkey Craft
The simplest craft ever is to make a turkey out of your hand. Paint your toddler’s hand, have them place it on a piece of paper, and then dress it up like a turkey.
You can also use this fun Turkey Hand Craft template.
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Do a gratitude scavenger hunt by having your toddler run around the house gathering items they are grateful for. This is a great object lesson and can really help them see all the things they love.
Countdown Chain
Make a Thanksgiving countdown chain. Cut out strips of construction paper and glue them together like rings in a chain.
Do as many rings as there are days until Thanksgiving. Take one off everyday to countdown.
Gratitude Chain
You can also do the opposite, and make a gratitude chain. Fill out a piece of the chain each day of November with the things you’re grateful for. The gratitude chain printable includes 32 different prompts to help them think of things they are grateful for.
Rubbing Leaf Craft
Another super simple craft. Take a walk outside and gather some fun leaves. When you get home, place them between two pieces of paper.
Rub a crayon or colored pencil over the top paper, and watch the leaf rubbings come to life. Your toddler might just enjoy collecting the leaves. If they don’t want to do the rubbing, they might enjoy taping or gluing the leaves instead.
Pumpkins
It’s still not too late to paint some pumpkins. You could also turn it into a gratitude pumpkin by writing something on it everyday that you are grateful for.
Display it in a spot where everyone in the family can see.
Corn Sensory
Create a corn sensory bucket with some corn kernels. Place them in a bucket or tub and then add some pinecones, leaves, or toys. Let your toddler feel them and play with them.
Homemade Butter
This can involve everyone in the family. Make homemade butter.
Here is a great recipe. It is a great gratitude lesson to include with the older kids.
Thanksgiving Books
Read some fun Thanksgiving books. Here are a few that we have enjoyed.
Thanksgiving Play Doh
Have your toddler make “Thanksgiving dinner” with play doh. You could even make a pumpkin Play-doh recipe.
Tear Paper Turkey
This is a super easy craft, and you probably already have all the supplies on hand. Draw a turkey on a piece of white paper with your hand.
Then to fill in the turkey, just tear up different pieces of colored paper and glue them inside the turkey. Kids like this craft because they love to tear the pieces of paper.
Make a Thanksgiving Treat
Make a fun Thanksgiving treat. These Reese’s cup turkeys are super cute.
Printable Thanksgiving Activities For Toddlers
I have also created some fun Thanksgiving printables that you can use as Thanksgiving activities with your toddler.
Placemats
Print out these cute placemats and set them at the Thanksgiving table.
Fall Scavenger Hunt
Do a fun Fall scavenger hunt. This is an activity that could include the whole family.
Toddler Pumpkin Puzzle
Make these cute and easy pumpkin puzzles.
Pumpkin People
This is a fun craft made out of paper. Get the pumpkin people with a template included here.
Scavenger Hunt
Do a fun Thanksgiving scavenger hunt. This would be one that can be done with the older kids. Your toddler will love joining in on the fun and the prize!
FREE Thanksgiving Activities for Toddlers (Printables)
I also have some FREE printable Thanksgiving activities for toddlers that are super easy and entertaining.
Gratitude Tree
Create a fun Thanksgiving gratitude tree with the whole family. Write down something you’re grateful for everyday on a leaf and add it to your tree.
You can easily design your own from paper and hang it on your wall. I also have an 8.5 x 11 FREE one that you can download here.
Turkey Headband
Make a fun turkey headband. You can find my FREE template here.
Pumpkin Coloring Sheet
This fun pumpkin coloring sheet is great to design your own pumpkin.
What Are You Eating?
An easy coloring sheet, where you can draw what you are eating for Thanksgiving. What is on your plate?
Pumpkin Flip Book
You can also sign up for my newsletter and I’ll send you my fun pumpkin flip book for FREE!
I hope you now have some fun (and easy) Thanksgiving activities to do with your toddler.
Thanksgiving can be a great time to create some awesome traditions with your little kids. You can do a craft, plan an activity, make something together, or download some Thanksgiving-tehemed printables.
Your toddler can be a part of Thanksgiving too!
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