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    20 Best Thanksgiving Games for the Whole Family

    The big day has arrived after a lot of Thanksgiving menu planning. Thanksgiving Day is incomplete without some fun, music, and Thanksgiving games with the family. So, when everyone is full after dinner or maybe when everyone arrives before the dinner begins, you can arrange for some fun and amusement via the best games!

    In this article, we have listed down the 20 best Thanksgiving games that you can enjoy with your kids and the whole family!

    20 best Thanksgiving games for the whole family to play together!

    Rip It Off

    Why not begin the evening with something kids enjoy doing? Yes, we’re talking about tearing papers. The aim of this game is to tear a sheet of construction paper into the shape of a turkey.

    The challenge is to do so while holding a piece of construction paper behind your back and within a time limit — a minute is usually sufficient. Before you begin, select a judge, and the winner will be the person with the most recognizable shape.

    The Mayflower

    To play this game, you must fill a large storage container with water. Give each person a small cork with a fake flower stuck into it and instruct them to place it on one end of the storage container.

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    To win, the player must be the first to blow their cork from one end of the storage container to the other. They can blow on it directly or through a plastic straw. The first cork to reach the other end is the winner.

    Also read: 10 fun, unique & budget-friendly crafts for kids

    Color the Table

    This is the best game to keep your children entertained while you finish preparing dinner. To keep the kids occupied while the food is being served, either print out a large coloring page and spread it on the dinner table.

    That’s it & you’re done. Watch your cutesy kids color the paper with all their creative freedom! 

    An image of a table for colouring by kids on thanksgiving
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin249246160681796360>Source <a>

    Roll with Pumpkin

    This one gets everyone moving and may help burn off some of the extra calories from the big meal. You’ll need two large pumpkins, plus a couple of spares in case one breaks. As pumpkins aren’t smooth balls, they don’t roll in a straight line. They tend to roll all over the place, so plenty of room is required for this game.

    Racers form a line and move the pumpkin to the finish line with their hands. Make it a relay race if you have a large number of participants.

    An image of kids playing the pumpkin roll game on thanksgiving
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin205265695506548548>Source <a>

    Also read: 50 best Thanksgiving jokes for kids & adults

    Game of Spin-the-Pie

    Allow guests to spin to reveal six slices of life, such as Family, Friends, and Travel, each of which is intended to evoke a memory for which they are grateful.

    To make, divide a paper plate into six sections and write prompts in each. Make a smaller round out of colorful craft paper and cut one “slice” out for the category window. Using a gold brad, attach the wheel to the plate. Hot-glue the jute rope to the rim. Stenciled letters can be added.

    Related Reading: Best Thanksgiving Wishes for Kids to Wish Family Members

    For another twist to this game, watch the video of spin the wheel pie face game: 

    Toss a Feather

    Attach a weight to the end of a feather with tape. To provide stability to the feather, use a flat, blunt nail as the weight. Mark the floor with a marker and place a basket a few feet away.

    Allow each participant to toss the feathers into the basket in turn. Keep track of the score to determine who the winner is.

    An image of many feathers on the floor
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin143552306858725688>Source<a>

    Also read: Hearwarming Thanksgiving wishes for kids to share with everyone!

    Tag Turkey

    A game of tag is almost a must-have for a Thanksgiving gathering, and these DIY turkey tag clothespins make it even more enjoyable.

    Allow the children to paint and decorate the clothespins to resemble turkeys. Attach them to the backs of their shirts. They are now ready for a game of tag.

    Don’t just let the kids have a good time, be sure to join them. This is a fun Thanksgiving game for the whole family.

    An image of clothespins for thanksgiving game of turkey tag
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin120963939975440560>Source<a>

    Guess Who Is Grateful

    As guests arrive, have them each write down what they are thankful for on a piece of paper, fold it up, and place it in a basket. After everyone has arrived, have one person read the notes aloud while the others try to figure out who wrote them.

    Related Reading: Fun & Unique Thanksgiving Crafts For Your Kids
    An image of a paper to play the grateful game on thanksgiving
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin571746115200899249>Source <a>

    Toss and Tell

    Participants form a circle and sit in it. The first person asks a question while tossing a small turkey stuffed animal or a football to someone else.

    For instance, who do you think will win today’s football games, or what are you grateful for today? This game allows multiple generations to interact with one another.

    The Goblet of Fire

    Purchase a glass or plastic goblets and place them on different tables far sides of the room for each team or player. Place orange ping pong balls on the opposite side of the room.

    Players must transfer three ping pong balls from the table to their goblets on the opposite side of the room to play the game.

    What’s the catch? They can only touch and hold the ping pong ball between their chin and neck.

    An image of a plastic goblet for the thanksgiving game the goblet of fire
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin655555289517169802>Source <a>

    Mr. Turkey, Where Are You?

    Depending on the weather, hide a turkey stuffed animal inside or outside your home. Gobbling like turkeys provides cues. If there are no hunters nearby, gobble quietly.

    As the hunters get closer, the turkeys gobble louder and louder until Mr. Turkey is found. If you have small children, this would make a fun scavenger hunt to get them in the Thanksgiving spirit.

    Waddle, Turkey

    Turkey Waddle is a silly Thanksgiving game that will get the whole family moving. This is a relay race in which you use balloons between your legs to try to cross the finish line first. It’s sure to make you laugh, and both kids and adults will enjoy it.

    Related Reading: Humorous Thanksgiving Jokes For Kids & Adults To Tell This Turkey Day

    Also read: 25 melodious Thanksgiving songs to get your groove on!

    Take the Pic!

    Kids enjoy taking pictures, and in this Thanksgiving game, they get to operate the camera.

    Kids will give clues about their relatives and then photograph the person who matches the clue. It’s a great way to get the kids to interact, and you’ll have the photos that will make great memories in the future.

    An image of a kid taking pictures
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin19351473390285822>Source<a>

    Don’t Leave the Leftovers

    Place a piece of plastic or fake food, such as “turkey legs,” on top of an upside-down Thanksgiving cup, with three cups and three pieces of food for each player.

    To win, players must knock off three pieces of food by tossing Thanksgiving paper plates like discs from a distance like the other side of the room.

    Pick-up Sticks for Gratitude

    “Teach Beside Me” created this free Thanksgiving game that is all about taking a few moments to be thankful for the people, places, food, and things that surround us. You can use actual pickup sticks, painted chopsticks, or colored straws.

    Twister & Thanksgiving.

    Replace the colored dots with Thanksgiving symbols to make the classic game of twister in to a Thanksgiving-themed game. To prevent ripping, completely secure pictures with tape. Twister is an excellent way to get your guests moving!

    An image of twister as a thanksgiving game
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin231442868329978443>Source <a>

    Race a Hand Turkey

    Everyone should keep track of the time as they work to draw the perfect hand turkey. The person who completes it in the shortest amount of time wins.

    Here’s how you can make a turkey with your hand.

    From A to Z, be Thankful

    A family member begins by expressing gratitude for something that begins with the letter A. The next person begins with the letter B and expresses gratitude. Continue until your family reaches the letter Z. It’s a fun game, especially for younger children who are still learning their ABCs.

    Relay for Candy Corn

    Divide the children into teams and place a jar of candy corn and a small bowl for each team on one side of the lawn. Allow the kids to race through an obstacle course while holding a spoon full of candy corn.

    The team with the most candy corn in their bowl at the end of 5 minutes wins.

    An image of obstacles for a thanksgiving game of candy corn
    <a href=httpsinpinterestcompin536983955562927385>Source <a>
    Related Reading: How to Explain the Story of Thanksgiving to Kids

    Be ready for the Pie

    Place the candy letters in a dish and cover them with whipped cream. Participants will have to find the letters in the whipped cream to spell out the word “pie.” The catch is that they cannot use their hands!

    And that’s it. These are the best DIY Thanksgiving games that you can enjoy with your whole family!

    So, after going through this list, we hope you have already found your favorite games for the day. Thanksgiving is a holiday for the family. It’s a celebration of togetherness and love. It’s a celebration of being grateful for the things and blessings we have in life.

    SplashLearn wishes you and your family a fun & love-filled Thanksgiving!!

    AUTHOR
    Andrew Scholl
    Andrew Scholl is an educational expert with over 15 years of teaching experience in elementary and middle school classrooms. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
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