15 Thanksgiving Games for the Whole Family

By Cedar & Ledger

Thanksgiving has long gaps: before dinner while the turkey rests, and after dinner when nobody wants to move. A few easy games keep kids busy, get the quiet relatives talking, and pull people off their phones. Here are 15 that work for mixed ages, most with no prep at all.

Before dinner (while the food finishes)

1. Thanksgiving bingo. Hand out cards with words like pie, parade, gravy and pilgrim. Call words at random or mark them as they come up in conversation. Use candy corn or cereal as markers.
2. Word search race. Print the same word search for every kid and see who finishes first. Great for ages 5 to 10 at a separate table.
3. Guess the weight. Everyone guesses the weight of the turkey (or a bag of potatoes). Closest guess picks the first slice of pie.
4. I spy, harvest edition. Kids take turns spotting fall colors and foods around the house.
5. Thankful alphabet. Go around the room; each person names something they're thankful for that starts with the next letter, A to Z.

At the table

1. Table talk cards. Put a stack of question cards in the middle. Each person draws one and answers: "What's a tradition you'd never skip?" or "What's the best meal you've ever had?"
2. Gratitude jar. Everyone writes one thing they're grateful for on a slip. Read them aloud during dessert and guess who wrote each one.
3. Two truths and a lie, family edition. Grandparents are especially good at this one.
4. Pass the compliment. Each person says one nice thing about the person on their left.

After dinner (the slow, full part)

1. Pie-eating charades. Act out Thanksgiving words: carving the turkey, a football touchdown, watching the parade.
2. Would you rather, Thanksgiving style. "Would you rather only eat stuffing or only eat pie for a year?" Kids love making up their own.
3. Leftover draw. Everyone sketches a turkey in 60 seconds with their eyes closed. Vote on the best (and worst).
4. Family trivia. One person writes 10 questions about the family ("Where did Grandma grow up?"). Teams compete.
5. Backyard football or a walk. Not a game exactly, but 20 minutes outside fixes the food coma.
6. Card games. Keep a regular deck around for kids and adults who want something quiet.

Tips that make games actually happen

• Pick one host. Games die when nobody's in charge. Ask an older kid or a teen to run them.
• Have everything printed and on the table before guests arrive. Nobody goes looking for a printer at 4 PM.
• Keep prizes tiny. First slice of pie, choosing the next game, or a piece of candy is plenty.
• Mix ages on teams so young kids don't lose every round.

Printable versions

If you'd rather not make your own, we sell a few low-cost printables: Thanksgiving Bingo, the Thanksgiving Table Talk & Gratitude Game, and a free Thanksgiving word search for kids. Print at home, cut, and you're done.

Related template: the thanksgiving table game template. Also see: the thanksgiving bingo printable template · the holiday games template

See all Cedar & Ledger templates

Try the free cost per meal calculator →