Thanksgiving with a Twist: 10 Ideas For Unique DIY Crafts, Games, and Family Fun!

Who is ready to gobble till they wobble?! Check out these 10 family-friendly activities to level up your hosting game this Thanksgiving.

DIY Family Crafts

DIY Holiday Garland

All you need for this craft is a needle, some thread, and items from your kitchen pantry! Bring out the popcorn and cranberries for the age-old Christmas garland decoration. This craft doubles as a fun activity as well as preparation for Christmas time.

Customize Your Wreath

If you have an old wreath stored away, then perfect, if not, you can purchase one or multiple wreaths along with assorted adornments such as fake flowers, greenery, and little jingle bells to craft your unique wreath. Multiple wreaths can be decorated and even made to be a competition among family members, or let the little ones create a truly unique wreath guaranteed to make you smile every year.

Forage For Pine Cones to Create Ornaments

Send the little ones to explore the backyard for pine cones and leaves to craft special little ornaments. All you’ll need for this is some string, hot glue, and any other materials you find fun! Small wooden circles from a craft store would be helpful to glue and draw on for a long-lasting, sentimental gift.

Make Your Own Snow Globes

Don’t throw away that old glass or candle, instead, use them to make adorable snow globes for your home. You start by gluing figurines to a base with glitter or fake snow. Fill the jar with distilled water, add a few drops of glycerin, and stir. When you're content with your creation, glue on the lid.

Candy Cornucopias

This one is bound to be a hit with the kids. All you need is ice cream cones, food dye & icing, and last but not least, candy! Have the little ones decorate their sugary creations with whatever they please and watch as they’re proud to show it to you. This activity is perfect for keeping the kids occupied and happy while you prepare the meal.

Thanksgiving Themed Games & Activities

Thanksgiving Icebreaker Game

This game is perfect for sparking conversation among groups. You can create cards with your own questions or look online for inspiration. Everybody will go around in a circle drawing cards with questions that the family members must guess before the answer is revealed. This activity is a fun way for everyone to bond, and you might be surprised by what you learn about one another!

Crafts Turkey Hats

This is another great hands-on activity to keep the keeps occupied through a creative outlet. For this activity, you will need kid-safe scissors, glue, colored/foam paper, washable markers, and other little decorations.

Thanksgiving Themed Bingo

Create or print off custom bingo cards with Thanksgiving-themed items, and enjoy a lively game with the family. You can include items like turkey, pumpkin pie, or even specific family traditions. You should be able to easily find and print a premade bingo set; all you’ll need are the chips.

Create a “Count Your Blessings” Tree

Encourage gratitude by setting up a tree where family members can hang leaves with things they are thankful for. It's a heartwarming way to reflect on the positive aspects of life. This can either be in paper or 3-D form.

Set Up a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Turn your backyard or living space into an adventure with a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt. Create clues related to the holiday and watch as the family works together to solve them. This will prove to be a great bonding experience for the whole family.