Creating a Memorable Thanksgiving Break: Fun Activities, Crafts, and Recipes for the Whole Family

Thanksgiving break is the perfect opportunity to slow down, enjoy family time, and celebrate what matters most. From expressing gratitude to creating holiday crafts to enjoying cozy indoor activities, we’ve put together a list here of ideas to make this Thanksgiving fun and meaningful for all ages!

Starting New Traditions

Taking time to reflect on what we’re grateful for, and involving kids in this tradition teaches them the importance of gratitude. Here are a few simple, creative ways for families to celebrate and express thanks:

• Gratitude Jar: Place slips of paper and a jar in a common area where family members can write down what they’re thankful for each day. On Thanksgiving, gather around to read them aloud and share smiles and stories.
• Thankful Tree Craft: Trace leaf shapes on paper and have each person write one thing they’re thankful for on each leaf. Attach the leaves to a “tree” made from twigs or cardboard for a beautiful, gratitude-filled decoration.
• Random Acts of Kindness Challenge: Brainstorm small acts of kindness, like making a card, baking cookies, or helping with chores. Create a checklist to encourage kids to complete these acts and spread Thanksgiving cheer to friends, family, or neighbors.
• Thankful Handprints: Have each family member trace their hands on paper and write something they’re grateful for on each finger. Display the handprints around the house or use them as table decorations.
• Gratitude Letters: Encourage kids to write a letter to someone special in their life, such as a grandparent, teacher, or friend, thanking them for their support and kindness.
• Family Recipe Swap: Invite extended family members to share their favorite recipes. Collect these in a “Family Recipe Book” and add new recipes each year.

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Thanksgiving Table Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving-themed crafts keep kids engaged while creating a festive holiday atmosphere! These simple projects also make wonderful table decor and can be used as gifts.

• Personalized Place Cards: Kids can decorate small pumpkins or make paper place cards with guests’ names on them. It’s a sweet, personal touch for each guest.
• Leaf Garland: Gather colorful leaves, pinecones, and acorns during a nature walk and string them together for a lovely autumnal garland.
• Thanksgiving Placemats: Use construction paper and let kids create “Thankful For” placemats by drawing or writing things they’re grateful for. These can be used at the Thanksgiving table and saved each year.
• Gratitude Rocks: Collect small rocks and let kids paint or draw things they’re thankful for on them. These can be used as table settings, place cards, or scattered around the centerpiece.
• DIY Thanksgiving Napkin Rings: Help kids cut out turkey shapes from paper or foam and decorate them to use as napkin rings for each place setting, adding a personalized touch to each guest’s setting.

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Outdoor Adventures: Nature Walks & Fun Crafts

If the weather allows, take a nature walk and explore the changing colors and textures of fall! Nature walks are a perfect way to collect materials for crafts, and they can lead to even more creative projects afterward.

• Scavenger Hunt: Plan a scavenger hunt list with items like acorns, colorful leaves, pinecones, or even specific leaf shapes. Give each child a checklist and a bag to collect the items, making it a fun and educational adventure.
• Nature Collage: After gathering items on your nature walk, use leaves, twigs, and other treasures to make a nature collage or wreath. These make beautiful decorations that showcase the beauty of fall.
• Seasonal Photos: Let the kids take photos of their favorite fall sights, like colorful trees, animals, or sunlight through the leaves. Later, print these out to create a fall family photo album.
• Nature Bracelets: Wrap duct tape (sticky side out) around each child’s wrist, and as you walk, let them attach small leaves, flowers, or twigs to create a “nature bracelet” they can wear proudly.
• Twig Picture Frame: Gather small twigs and sticks to make a rustic picture frame. Glue the twigs to a cardboard base and use it to display family photos or Thanksgiving crafts.

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Cozy Indoor Activities for Chilly Days

For colder days, keep the holiday spirit alive indoors with these cozy and creative activities, perfect for all ages.

• Board Game Day: Bring out family-friendly board games and make it a tournament. To up the stakes, let the winner pick a Thanksgiving treat or movie!
• Baking Together: Recipes like sugar cookies or pumpkin muffins are perfect for kids to help with stirring, decorating, and tasting. (see our easy recipes below)
• Movie Marathon: Choose Thanksgiving or fall-themed family movies, grab cozy blankets, and have a mini movie marathon with everyone’s favorite snacks.
• Thanksgiving Bingo: Make or print Thanksgiving Bingo cards with images of pumpkins, turkeys, and pies. Use candy corn as markers, and offer a prize for the first to shout “Bingo!”
• Indoor Camping: Set up a cozy tent or blanket fort in the living room. Share Thanksgiving stories, tell jokes, and enjoy “campfire” treats like microwave s’mores.

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SPECIAL THANKSGIVING RECIPES:

Add some extra fun and flavor to your Thanksgiving holiday with these two delicious recipes! These treats are perfect for making memories in the kitchen with your kids and will be a delightful addition to your holiday table.While they take a little more effort and a few extra ingredients, the results are well worth it.

Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

These simple, kid-friendly recipes are fun to make and delicious to eat, letting kids contribute to the Thanksgiving meal.

• Mini Pumpkin Pies: Use pre-made dough and a muffin tin to create mini pies. Let kids press the dough and fill it with pumpkin pie filling for an adorable, individual dessert.
• Apple Slice “Cookies”: Slice apples and spread them with peanut butter or cream cheese. Kids can add sprinkles, raisins, or chocolate chips as toppings!
• Cheesy Breadsticks: Use pre-made dough, cut it into strips, sprinkle with cheese, and bake. These make a great, simple side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Turkey Veggie Tray: Arrange fresh vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers) in the shape of a turkey. Add a small bowl of hummus or ranch dressing as the “face” and let kids assemble the “feathers.”
• Sweet Potato Bites: Slice sweet potatoes into rounds, roast them, and let kids add toppings like marshmallows, nuts, or cinnamon for mini “sweet potato pies.”

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Classic Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies are easy to make and perfect for cutting into fun shapes or decorating for Thanksgiving!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Tip: A few dashes of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon would elevate the cookies and make them perfect for your Thanksgiving table!

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the baking sheets.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool on a wire rack.
7. Decorate with icing, sprinkles, or leave them plain for a delicious treat!

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Mini Pumpkin Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel

These mini pumpkin muffins are moist, flavorful, and topped with a delicious cinnamon streusel!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin puree
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Streusel Topping Ingredients:

• ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a mini muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Make the streusel topping by combining brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add softened butter and mix with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. In another large bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined (don’t overmix).
6. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over each muffin.
7. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. The muffins should cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

By incorporating these activities, you and your family are sure to have a fun-filled Thanksgiving!