40 Thanksgiving Gratitude Questions for the Dinner Table
By Cedar & Ledger
"What are you thankful for?" is a great question, but asked the same way every year it gets one-word answers. These 40 questions get people talking. Write a few on cards, put one at each plate, and go around the table between dinner and dessert.
Easy openers (good for kids)
- What made you smile this week?
- What is one food you are thankful for?
- Who is someone who helped you this year?
- What is your favorite thing about our home?
- What is a sound or smell that makes you happy?
- What is something you can do now that you could not do last year?
- What animal are you thankful for, and why?
- What is the best part of today so far?
About people
- Who taught you something important this year?
- Who made a hard day easier for you?
- Who at this table are you glad to see today?
- Is there a teacher, coach or neighbor you want to thank?
- Who is someone you would like to thank but never have?
- What is a kind thing a stranger did for you?
About the year
- What is one small thing that went right this year?
- What is a challenge that turned out better than you expected?
- What is a new habit you are glad you started?
- What is the best day you had this year?
- What is something you got through that you are proud of?
- What did you learn about yourself this year?
- What is a place you visited that you are grateful for?
- What is something ordinary that you never want to take for granted?
Deeper questions (for teens and adults)
- What is a mistake you are now thankful for?
- What is a gift you got that cost nothing?
- What tradition do you hope we keep forever?
- What would you tell yourself from a year ago?
- What is a skill someone passed down to you?
- Which family story are you glad we still tell?
- What is something you have now that you once hoped for?
- What does a good life look like to you?
Silly ones (to keep it light)
- What is a food you are NOT thankful for?
- What invention are you most thankful for?
- If the turkey could talk, what would it be thankful for?
- What song should be the official song of this dinner?
- Which pet (real or imagined) deserves a thank-you speech?
- What is the funniest thing that happened this year?
- What would you be thankful for if you were a cat?
- What app or gadget could you not live without?
- What is a smell you are thankful for?
- What is one thing you want to say thank you for right now?
How to make it work
- Keep it short. Pick 8 to 12 questions, not all 40.
- Let people pass. Nobody should feel put on the spot.
- Mix the types. Start silly, then go deeper with dessert.
- Write answers down. Read last year's answers next Thanksgiving.
If you want it ready to print, our Thanksgiving table game has question cards, a gratitude game and place cards for the table.
Related template: Thanksgiving Table Talk & Gratitude Game. Also see: Thanksgiving Family Games Pack
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Frequently asked questions
What does this guide cover?
40 Thanksgiving gratitude questions beyond 'what are you thankful for': easy ones for kids, deeper ones for adults and silly ones.
Do I need a template to do this?
No. A notebook or a sheet you build yourself works fine. Cedar & Ledger also sells spreadsheet templates (I'd earn from a purchase); see the template box at the top of this page.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's general information with example numbers only, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Use your own numbers and check anything important with a qualified professional or the official source.