Thanksgiving is here, which means it’s time to gather the family, feast on turkey, and somehow convince your kids that gratitude is cooler than their video games. (Spoiler alert: it’s possible!)
If you’re tired of hearing “Can I have?” on repeat and ready to shift gears to “I’m thankful for”, you’re in the right place. These 15 gratitude games and activities are designed to turn your little ones into appreciation experts – without feeling like a boring lecture.
The best part? These games are quick to set up, easy to play, and actually fun. (Yes, really!) Whether you need a pre-dinner activity to keep the kids busy or a post-feast game to burn off some energy, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s dive in and make this Thanksgiving one your family will actually remember – for all the right reasons!
1. The Great Gratitude Hunt
Turn your home into a treasure map of thankfulness with this scavenger hunt that gets kids moving and thinking.
Best for: Kids ages 5-12, groups of 2-8 players
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Energy Level: High
What You’ll Need:
- A pre-made list of gratitude-themed items (one per child)
- Pens or pencils
- A small prize or treat for everyone who completes the hunt
How to Play:
- Create your hunt list with items like “something that makes you laugh”, “a favorite book”, “a gift from a friend”, or “a family photo you love”.
- Hand out the lists and send your little detectives on their mission to find (or think of) each item.
- Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and let them loose! They can either bring items back or write down what they found.
- Gather everyone together and have each child share what they discovered and why they’re grateful for it.
- Celebrate completions with small prizes – even if it’s just high-fives all around!
Pro Tip: Make it extra special by having kids take photos of the items they find instead of bringing them back. You’ll create a digital gratitude album they can look back on!
Fall Autumn Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids & Adults
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2. ABC Gratitude Challenge
This alphabet game turns appreciation into a fun word challenge that’ll have your kids’ brains working overtime (in a good way!).
Best for: Kids ages 6+, any group size
Time to Play: 10-15 minutes
Energy Level: Low to medium
What You’ll Need:
- Nothing! Just your voices and some creative thinking
How to Play:
- Start with the letter A and work your way through the alphabet.
- Take turns having each player name something they’re grateful for that starts with that letter (e.g., “A is for apples”, “B is for birthdays”).
- Keep the pace moving – if someone gets stuck, give them 10 seconds to think or let them pass.
- Challenge the tough letters like Q, X, and Z by allowing creative answers (yes, “X-rays that show we’re healthy” counts!).
- Make it to Z and celebrate your family’s gratitude vocabulary!
Fun Variation: For older kids, make a rule that no one can repeat a category. So if someone says “apples” for A, no one else can name a food until the next round!
3. Thankful Telephone
Remember the classic telephone game? This gratitude twist turns whispered messages into hilarious moments of appreciation.
Best for: Kids ages 5+, groups of 4 or more
Time to Play: 10-15 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- A group seated in a circle
- That’s it!
How to Play:
- Arrange everyone in a circle where they can easily whisper to the person next to them.
- The first player whispers a gratitude message to their neighbor, like “I’m thankful for my cozy bedroom”.
- Pass the message along by whispering from ear to ear around the circle.
- The last person announces what they heard out loud.
- Compare the results and laugh at how “I’m grateful for family dinners” became “I’m hateful of family spiders”!
Pro Tip: Start with longer, more complex messages to make the results even funnier. The mishearings are half the fun!
4. Gratitude Jenga
Stack up some thankfulness with this twist on the classic block-stacking game that’ll have everyone sharing while they play.
Best for: Kids ages 6+, groups of 2-6 players
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: Medium
What You’ll Need:
- A Jenga set (or any block-stacking game)
- A permanent marker or stickers with prompts
How to Play:
- Write gratitude prompts on each Jenga block before you start, like “Name a family member you’re thankful for” or “Share your favorite memory from this year”.
- Build your tower just like regular Jenga, stacking three blocks per level.
- Take turns pulling blocks from the tower – but here’s the twist!
- Before placing your block on top, read the prompt out loud and share your answer.
- Keep playing until the tower tumbles. The person who makes it fall isn’t “out” – they just get to start the next round!
Fun Variation: For younger kids, color-code the blocks by category (family, friends, things, experiences) so they know what type of gratitude they’ll be sharing.
Rescue The Runaway Turkeys – Easy Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Printable for Kids
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✉After your purchase, you can download your files directly from the website or find them in the email receipt we send you.
📧Should you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected] and we'll assist you within 24-48 hours.
5. Thankful Sunflower Craft
Create a blooming bouquet of gratitude with this hands-on craft that doubles as beautiful Thanksgiving décor.
Best for: Kids ages 4-10, any group size
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Brown construction paper (for the center)
- Yellow construction paper (for petals)
- Green construction paper (for stem and leaves)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Markers or crayons
How to Play:
- Cut out a large brown circle for the sunflower’s center (about 4-5 inches wide).
- Cut out 8-10 petal shapes from the yellow paper – they don’t have to be perfect!
- Have each child write something they’re grateful for on each petal.
- Glue the petals around the brown circle to create your sunflower.
- Add a green stem and leaves to complete your gratitude bloom.
- Display your sunflowers on the wall, table, or fridge for everyone to admire!
Pro Tip: Make this a family activity where everyone creates their own sunflower, then arrange them together as a “gratitude garden” centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.
6. The Gratitude Circle
This simple, heartfelt activity turns sharing into a meaningful family tradition that requires zero supplies and delivers maximum feels.
Best for: All ages, any group size
Time to Play: 10-20 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- A “talking stick” (any object works – a wooden spoon, remote control, or even a stuffed animal)
How to Play:
- Gather everyone in a circle on the floor or around a table.
- Pass the talking stick to the first person – whoever holds it gets to share.
- Share one thing you’re grateful for – it can be big or small, serious or silly.
- Pass the stick to the next person and repeat around the circle.
- Keep going for several rounds until everyone has shared multiple times.
- Set a “no repeat” rule for added challenge – you can’t say the same thing twice!
Pro Tip: For families with young kids, give examples before starting to help them understand. And yes, if your teenager says “my phone”, just smile and keep the circle moving!
7. M&M Gratitude Game
Turn candy into a conversation starter with this colorful game that makes sharing gratitude as sweet as the treats.
Best for: Kids ages 5+, any group size
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- A bag of M&Ms (or any colorful candy like Skittles)
- A list of color-coded gratitude prompts
Color Prompts:
- Red: Something you love about yourself
- Orange: A family member you’re thankful for
- Yellow: A friend who makes you smile
- Green: Something in nature you appreciate
- Blue: A place you’re grateful to visit
- Brown: A food you’re thankful for
How to Play:
- Give each player a handful of M&Ms (about 5-8 candies).
- One by one, have players pick an M&M from their pile.
- Match the color to the gratitude prompt and share your answer.
- After sharing, eat the M&M as your reward for opening up!
- Continue until everyone has shared for all their candies.
Fun Variation: Make it a race! See who can thoughtfully share gratitude for all their candies first (no speed-talking allowed!).
8. Thankful Tag
Combine the energy of tag with the warmth of gratitude in this active game that’ll have your kids running and thinking at the same time.
Best for: Kids ages 5-12, groups of 4 or more
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Energy Level: High
What You’ll Need:
- An open space (backyard, park, or large room)
- Energy (the kids will bring plenty!)
How to Play:
- Choose one player to be “It” to start the game.
- “It” chases the other players just like regular tag.
- When someone gets tagged, they must freeze in place.
- To get unfrozen, they must shout out something they’re grateful for (no repeats allowed!).
- After sharing, they’re back in the game and can run again.
- Play continues until “It” needs a break, then choose a new “It” and start fresh!
Pro Tip: Keep a mental list of what’s been said to help younger kids who might forget what’s already been shared. This keeps the game moving and prevents frustration!
9. Gobble Up Gratitude Turkey Craft
Create a colorful turkey that’s stuffed with thankfulness instead of stuffing – and way cuter than the one on your dinner table!
Best for: Kids ages 4-10, any group size
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Brown construction paper (for the turkey body)
- Various colored construction paper (for feathers)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Markers or crayons
- Googly eyes (optional but highly recommended for maximum cuteness!)
How to Play:
- Cut out a turkey body from brown paper – an oval or circle works great.
- Cut out 6-8 feather shapes from different colored paper.
- Have your child write something they’re grateful for on each feather.
- Attach the feathers to the back of the turkey body, fanning them out.
- Add a beak, wattle, and googly eyes to bring your turkey to life.
- Display your gratitude turkey as a Thanksgiving decoration!
Fun Variation: Make it a family project! Each family member creates one feather with what they’re grateful for, then assemble them together into one big family turkey.
10. The Gratitude Jar
Create a living collection of thankfulness that grows throughout the season and delivers smiles whenever you need them.
Best for: All ages, family activity
Time to Play: Ongoing (5 minutes per contribution)
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- A large jar or container
- Strips of paper or small notecards
- Pens or markers
- Decorating supplies (stickers, ribbons, etc.)
How to Play:
- Decorate your jar together as a family to make it special.
- Place the jar in a central location with paper and pens nearby.
- Throughout November (or any time!), have family members write down things they’re grateful for.
- Fold the papers and drop them into the jar.
- On Thanksgiving Day, gather everyone and take turns reading the notes aloud.
- Enjoy the walk down gratitude lane as you remember all the good moments!
Pro Tip: Make it a nightly dinner tradition to have each family member add one gratitude note before the meal. By Thanksgiving, you’ll have a jar overflowing with appreciation!
11. Gratitude Bingo
Turn bingo into a gratitude game that gets everyone thinking about the good things in life while trying to score five in a row!
Best for: Kids ages 6+, groups of 2-10 players
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Blank bingo cards (5×5 grid)
- Markers or bingo chips
- A list of gratitude prompts
How to Play:
- Create bingo cards with different gratitude prompts in each square, like “someone who made you laugh”, “a favorite toy”, “a good memory”, etc.
- Give each player a bingo card and some markers.
- Call out prompts one at a time (or have players choose squares themselves).
- Players mark a square only after they share what they’re grateful for in that category.
- First player to get five in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) shouts “GRATEFUL!” and wins!
Fun Variation: Play blackout bingo where everyone has to fill their entire card – that’s 25 things to be grateful for!
12. Thank You Card Creation Station
Transform thank you cards from a boring chore into a creative activity that spreads joy beyond your home.
Best for: Kids ages 5+, any group size
Time to Play: 30-45 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Blank cards or cardstock folded in half
- Art supplies (markers, crayons, stickers, stamps)
- Glitter (if you’re feeling brave!)
- A list of people to thank
How to Play:
- Set up a craft station with all your supplies laid out.
- Have each child choose 2-3 people they want to thank (grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbors).
- Create unique cards for each person with drawings, decorations, and personal touches.
- Help them write a specific message about why they’re grateful for that person.
- Mail or deliver the cards and watch gratitude spread like wildfire!
Pro Tip: Make this even more special by having kids include a specific memory or moment with that person. “Thank you for teaching me to ride my bike” beats “thank you for being nice” every time!
13. Gratitude Story Chain
Build a collaborative story where each person adds a sentence about something they’re grateful for – it’s like Mad Libs meets thankfulness!
Best for: Kids ages 6+, groups of 3 or more
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Paper and pen (optional)
- Imagination!
How to Play:
- The first player starts with “Once upon a time, I was grateful for…” and completes the sentence.
- The next player adds “And that reminded me to be thankful for…” and continues the story.
- Keep building the story as each person adds their grateful moment.
- Watch the story twist and turn in unexpected and hilarious ways.
- End the story when everyone has contributed at least twice or when you reach a natural conclusion.
Pro Tip: For younger kids, you can use a theme to guide the story, like “a day at the park” or “our family vacation”, to make it easier to connect their grateful thoughts.
14. Gratitude Charades
Act out things you’re grateful for in this lively game that combines physical activity with appreciation!
Best for: Kids ages 6+, groups of 4 or more
Time to Play: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: High
What You’ll Need:
- Slips of paper with gratitude prompts written on them
- A bowl or hat to hold the prompts
- A timer (optional)
How to Play:
- Write gratitude prompts on slips of paper like “your favorite food”, “a family tradition”, “your pet”, “your best friend”, etc.
- Fold them up and place them in a bowl.
- One player draws a prompt and acts it out without speaking while others guess.
- Set a timer for 2 minutes per turn if you want to add pressure.
- After someone guesses correctly, the actor shares why they’re grateful for that thing.
- Keep rotating until everyone has had multiple turns!
Fun Variation: Make it “Gratitude Pictionary” instead! Have players draw what they’re grateful for while others guess.
15. The Gratitude Memory Game
Test your memory while celebrating the things your family is thankful for in this brain-boosting game!
Best for: Kids ages 5+, groups of 2-8 players
Time to Play: 15-20 minutes
Energy Level: Low
What You’ll Need:
- Nothing but your memory!
How to Play:
- Sit in a circle with your group.
- The first player says, “I’m grateful for [something]” (like “I’m grateful for pizza”).
- The second player repeats what the first player said, then adds their own: “I’m grateful for pizza and my dog”.
- Each player continues, repeating the entire list before adding their own item.
- If someone forgets the list, they’re out (or start a new round – you decide!).
- The player who remembers the longest list wins!
Pro Tip: For younger kids or bigger groups, limit the list to 5-7 items before starting fresh to keep frustration low and fun high.
Wrap It Up With Gratitude (and Maybe Some Pie)
There you have it – 15 gratitude games and activities that’ll transform your Thanksgiving from “when’s dinner?” to “let’s do that again!”. These games aren’t just about keeping kids busy (though that’s a nice bonus); they’re about creating meaningful moments that teach appreciation in a way that actually sticks.
Will these activities magically turn your kids into perfect angels? Not likely. But they will create memories, spark conversations, and maybe – just maybe – remind everyone (adults included!) that gratitude is about noticing the good stuff, even when life feels chaotic.
So grab your M&Ms, dust off that Jenga set, and get ready to gobble up some gratitude this Thanksgiving. Your family will thank you for it. (See what we did there?)
Your turn! Which gratitude game are you most excited to try with your crew? Drop a comment below and let us know! And if you’ve got your own gratitude game twist, we’re all ears – share it with the Play Party Games community!
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