11 Fun Thanksgiving Gratitude Games and Activities for Kids

The time of year when we’re supposed to be grateful, but instead, we’re stressed about dry turkeys and awkward family gatherings.

And let’s not forget the ultimate challenge: getting our kids to appreciate something other than their iPads.

But before you resign yourself to a lifetime of “I want” and “Can I have,” take a deep breath.

I’ve got 11 fun, little gratitude games and activities  up my sleeve that’ll help turn your little ingrates into mini bundles of thankfulness.

Who knows? You might even end up on the receiving end of some gratitude yourself. (A parent can dream, right?)

1. The Great Gratitude Hunt: A Scavenger Adventure

Nothing says “family bonding” quite like sending your kids on a wild goose chase for things to be thankful for.

Think of it as an Easter egg hunt, but with less sugar and more warm fuzzies.

Create a list of gratitude-themed items for your little detectives to find, such as:

• Something that makes them laugh (besides your dance moves)
• A family photo that brings back good memories (yes, even the one where you have that questionable haircut)
• Their favorite book (bonus points if it’s not just pictures)
• A toy a friend gave them (that you’ve been secretly wishing would “disappear”)

Remember, the goal is to find things to be grateful for, not to turn your house into a disaster zone.

Although, if they do find that long-lost TV remote in the process, consider it a parenting win!

2. ABC, Easy as Gratitude: The Alphabet Game

Warning: this game may cause excessive thinking and spontaneous outbursts of appreciation. Side effects may include improved vocabulary and a sudden urge to hug family members.

How to play:

1. Start with A and work your way through the alphabet.
2. For each letter, have your little Einstein think of something they’re grateful for.
3. Prepare to be amazed at how creative kids get when they hit letters like Q, X, and Z.

I once played this with my niece, and she said she was grateful for “Xylophones” because “they’re like pianos for people who hate sitting down.” Can’t argue with that logic!

3. Thankful Telephone: The Whisper Challenge of Appreciation

Get ready to play Chinese Whispers, but with more warm fuzzies and less “Purple monkey dishwasher.”Here’s how to set up your gratitude grapevine:

1. Gather your crew in a circle. If you can get them to sit still for more than 30 seconds, you’re already winning.
2. The first player whispers a gratitude message to the next person. Something like, “I’m thankful for Mom’s burnt cookies” (Hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?).
3. Pass the message around the circle, whispering from ear to ear. Watch as concentration faces rival those of bomb diffusers.
4. The last person announces what they heard. Prepare for hilarity as “I’m thankful for our cozy home” becomes “I’m bankful for our nosy gnome.”

Now you’ve got a game that teaches listening skills, spreads gratitude, and provides endless entertainment.

4. Gratitude Jenga: Topple Your Thankfulness

Time to stack some appreciation, and no, I don’t mean piling up those unread parenting books.Here’s how to build your tower of gratitude:

1. Grab a Jenga set. If you can’t find it, check under the couch cushions along with last week’s snacks and your sanity.
2. Write gratitude prompts on each block. Examples: “Name a friend you’re thankful for,” “What’s your favorite family tradition?”
3. Stack the blocks like you’re constructing the Leaning Tower of Pisa (it’s okay, perfection is overrated).
4. Take turns pulling blocks, reading prompts, and sharing. Watch as your tower of appreciation grows wobblier than your resolve to limit screen time.

5. Sunflower Power: The Gratitude Bloom

Time to grow some thankfulness, and no, I don’t mean making your kids eat more vegetables.

Here’s how to cultivate your gratitude garden:

1. Cut out a big brown circle and a bunch of yellow petals. Pro tip: If your cutting skills resemble a toddler’s, blame it on “abstract art.”
2. Have your little sunshine write something they’re thankful for on each petal. If you want, use green construction paper to make a stem and leaves.
3. Assemble the flower faster than you can say “Why is there glue in your hair?”

Voila! You’ve got a craft that’ll make other parents think you’ve got your life together.

Spoiler alert: Some days I don’t. And it’s totally okay if you don’t either.

6. The Gratitude Circle: Like Show and Tell, But with Feelings

Gather your family in a circle and have everyone share what they’re grateful for. It’s like group therapy, but cheaper and with less crying (hopefully).

How it works:

1. Sit in a circle (shape is crucial, people!).
2. Pass around a “talking stick” (or whatever object you have handy – TV remote, spatula, that weird knick-knack Aunt Edna gave you).
3. Whoever holds the object shares something they’re grateful for.
4. No repeats allowed – this isn’t a competition to see who can say “family” the most times.
5. Try not to roll your eyes when your teenager says “my phone”

7. M&M Mania: The Candy-Coated Thanksgiving Gratitude Game for Kids

Want to sweeten up your Thanksgiving traditions? Try this M&M gratitude game with your little ones! It’s a fun, colorful way to teach kids about thankfulness (and sneak in some extra family bonding).

How to play:

1. Give your child an M&M (or a handful, if you’re feeling generous).
2. Have them match the color to a gratitude prompt (we’ve got suggestions that’ll make them giggle).
3. Watch in awe as your kiddo shares heartwarming (and sometimes hilarious) things they’re grateful for.

I played this with my nephew one time, and his response for “something in nature” was “mud puddles for jumping in.” Can’t argue with that logic!

Ready to add some color to your gratitude practice?

Click through to get all the juicy details on how to play Thanksgiving Gratitude Game with M&Ms, including a FREE printable game card.

8. Thankful Tag: The “You’re It” of Gratitude

Ready to turn your backyard into a field of appreciation? No, we’re not planting a garden of “thank you” notes.Here’s how to play this twist on the classic game:

1. Designate one child as “It.” If they all argue about who gets to be “It,” congratulations! You’re experiencing authentic sibling rivalry.
2. When “It” tags someone, the tagged player must freeze and shout something they’re grateful for before they can start chasing.
3. Encourage creative answers. “I’m thankful for broccoli” might be a stretch, but hey, we’ll take it.
4. Keep playing until everyone’s out of breath or ideas, whichever comes first.

Voila! You’ve got a game that combines exercise, gratitude, and the joy of watching your kids run around like caffeinated squirrels.

9. “Gobble Up Gratitude” Turkey Craft

Move over, Thanksgiving dinner – there’s a new bird in town, and this one’s emotional intelligence is off the charts.

1. Draw a turkey body. Stick figures are fine; we’re aiming for gratitude, not a gallery exhibition.
2. Cut out feather shapes in various colors. Yes, even that neon green your kid insists on using for everything.
3. Have your little pilgrim write their gratitudes on each feather.
4. Attach the feathers to create a turkey that’s more emotionally aware than most adults.

Remember, if your kid says they’re thankful for “not having to eat Brussels sprouts,” just nod and smile. We’re cultivating gratitude, not a future food critic.

10. The Gratitude Jar: Where Thankfulness Gets Canned

Move over, pickles – there’s a new jar in town, and it’s preserving something even better than cucumbers.

Here’s how to create your own gratitude preservation system:

1. Find a jar (or any container – we’re not picky).
2. Let your kids decorate it like it’s going to be judged at the county fair.
3. Cut up small pieces of paper (or use those junk mail envelopes you were going to recycle anyway).
4. Whenever someone feels grateful, have them write it down and pop it in the jar.
5. On Thanksgiving (or whenever you need a pick-me-up), read them out loud.

It’s like a time capsule of good vibes. Plus, it’s way less messy than actually canning things.

I’ve tried both, and gratitude doesn’t stain your clothes nearly as much as homemade jam does.

11. Gratitude Mail Call: Thank You Cards That Spread Joy

Let’s face it, most thank you cards are about as exciting as watching paint dry. But not anymore! We’re about to revolutionize the gratitude mail industry.

Spice up those thank you cards:

1. Provide a bunch of art supplies that would make a kindergarten teacher weep with joy.
2. Encourage your kids to go wild with their designs. Glitter? Sure! Macaroni art? Why not!
3. Help them write heartfelt messages that go beyond “Thank you for the gift.”

I got a thank you card from my niece when she was super little (she’s in her twenties now) that was covered in so much glitter, I looked like a disco ball for days afterward. Best. Card. Ever.

The Grand Finale: Gratitude with a Side of Sanity

Well, there you have it, brave parents and caregivers! 11 gratitude-inducing games that might just save your sanity this Thanksgiving.

Will these activities turn your kids into perfect, appreciative angels? Let’s not get carried away. But they might just make the holiday a little more bearable… er, meaningful.

Remember, the goal isn’t to create Instagram-worthy moments of family bliss. It’s about fostering genuine appreciation amidst the chaos of spilled cranberry sauce and Uncle Bob’s political rants.

And if all else fails, there’s always pie. Because let’s be honest, we’re all grateful for pie. 

Your Turn

If you had to play “Gratitude Telephone” with your family, what message would you start with to cause maximum chaos by the end of the circle? I’m genuinely curious. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.