Thanksgiving fun: 3 activities to do with your family this holiday
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I get to enjoy delicious food with some of my favorite people and it’s finally cool enough for me to wear fuzzy socks. Plus, there’s pie. Yummy, warm, delicious pie. I mean, calories during holidays don’t count, right?
More than the food and the cool weather, I enjoy taking time out as a family to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. So I try to include activities that we can do during Thanksgiving that are fun and encourage us to express our gratitude.
Here are three activities that anyone can do with family and friends that encourage thankfulness while having some fun.
1. Gratitude game
Item needed: 1 dice
With this game, each number represents something you are grateful for. This is a good game to reinforce counting with smaller children and to encourage them to identify ways they can be thankful. To play, each person will take a turn rolling a dice. Each number represents something different you are grateful for. Use the suggestions below for the categories, or modify them to make up your own for your family.
1—A person I am thankful for and why
2—I am grateful I can ________, because
3—A place I am thankful for and why
4—One lesson I am thankful I have learned
5—One thing I am thankful for and why
6—One reason I am thankful for being here today
An alternative to the option listed above: Everyone would have to share one thing he/she is grateful for based on the number rolled on the dice. If the person rolls a three, then that person would share three things he/she is grateful for.
2. Write letters
Items needed: paper or/and thank you cards, writing utensils
Being able to have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends is a luxury many people do not get to experience because of their occupations. Numerous military personnel, firefighters, nurses, and policemen will spend Thanksgiving in service to their country or to their community. This means time away from their family and friends during holiday time.
Set time aside to show appreciation for their sacrifice. Write a letter. If the children are not sure what to write or if they are unable to write yet, let them children draw a picture. Your entire family can create a thank you card for you to drop off at your local Fire Station, Police Station, or Emergency Room.
3. The Clothespin game
Items needed: Clothespins, gift for winner (optional)
The clothes pin game is often a fan favorite at baby showers and birthday parties. Now we get to have fun playing the game during the Thanksgiving holiday.
How to start: Choose a word that is Thanksgiving related and will be a challenge for your guests to avoid saying. Some suggestions are Thanksgiving, turkey, football, or pie. Once all your guests have arrived, explain the rules of the games and distribute the clothes pins. You can decide ahead of time how many clothespins you would like each person to have. All players must clip the clothespins to their clothes.
The rules: Don’t say the word. Players can “steal” clothespins when they hear someone saying the forbidden word identified at the beginning of the game. Once a person runs out of clothespins, then that person can use the forbidden word without penalty.
Who wins: The person who has the most clothespins at the end of the set time wins.
What are some of your family favorite activities for Thanksgiving?
Have a great Thanksgiving,
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Renee
I absolutely love these ideas! Great things to do when we are recovering from our turkey coma! Thanks for sharing!
Mamie L. Pack
ReneeYes! That turkey coma is real 😆😆😆
supermompicks
I love the idea of writing on Thanksgiving day to others. This is something I did as a child for my grandparents and since they have passed, I now have those letters. These letters have made their way back to me in a touching and special way.
Mamie L. Pack
supermompicksWe did too. My grandmother kept all of our letters. It was so precious to find later in life.
Live Learn Better
I love Thanksgiving for the same reasons being able to share with the wonderful people in our lives.
Mamie L. Pack
Live Learn BetterSuch a wonderful time of the year!
Kristen
Thank you for posting this! These are great ideas that I would love to implement into my thanksgiving season! The only activities I enjoy right now for thanksgiving is spending time with family and eating LOL
quijuana
I love the gratitude game. I always have my girls write a list of Thankful notes, but our whole family should do this. Thanks for the post!
Menesa
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.K. Nevertheless, these are some interesting ideas that can be applied in other areas of family life.
Mamie L. Pack
MenesaWhat are some fun activities you do with your family during any holiday?
Jenna
These are fun! I was just asking on Instagram for new traditions and games for Thanksgiving!!
Kinunplugged
The gratitude game is a great one and such a good way to get your kids into consciously counting their blessings. Love it.
Mamie L. Pack
KinunpluggedWe definitely want our children to understand the importance of having a grateful heart.
Cathy
The games sound funny and meaningful. Such a great idea to let the children learn a big heart when they enjoy Thanksgiving.
Mamie L. Pack
CathyThanks Cathy!
Diffusing the Tension
Saving this! These are really fun ideas, and we will likely need to do what we can to make things fun this year
Mamie L. Pack
Diffusing the TensionThank you!! Having fun and making memories doesn’t have to be complicated.
Raisa Mia
I love this! Especially the gratitude game and writing letters! Will definitely be doing these two!
Life With Sonia
I love these ideas. Happy Thanksgivings when it comes.
Hot Mess Goes to Oz
These are great! will try some with my son!
Hot Mess Goes to Oz
I love the idea of the gratitude game! a great way to communicate with each other 🙂
Mamie L. Pack
Hot Mess Goes to OzGreat way to help families connect during the season.
Stephanie
I LOVE these ideas! Going to give the gratitude game a try this year. So fun!
Mamie L. Pack
StephanieYay! Hope you enjoy it.
Eva
Love the gratitude game! Definitely will give it a try. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Mamie L. Pack
EvaYes, give it a try. It might become a new favorite.
jenbradleyllc
The gratitude letters and clothespin games are some of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions too! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Mamie L. Pack
jenbradleyllcThank you Jen. You too!
The Southern Thing
Love the idea for the gratitude game!
Mamie L. Pack
The Southern ThingIt’s a fun activity.