These fun dinner table games and activities are the perfect way to keep kids entertained during Thanksgiving dinner or just a weeknight family sit-down!
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We all experienced it for ourselves way back when, and now we get to be on the observing end of the chaos that ensues at the kids table on Thanksgiving Day.
Looking for activities to entertain kids at Thanksgiving? We’ve got you covered!
Dinner Table Games for Kids
1 || Place a large sheet of white or brown paper down on the table as a table cloth with a pile of markers in the center.
2 || Similar to above, add the blank paper table cloth. Draw a blank turkey template by each child’s table setting. Place a pile of craft materials (feathers, gems, stickers, macaroni, etc.) and glue sticks in the center and allow each child to decorate their own personal turkey.
3 || Place a scrapbook or photo album full of old funny photographs of the children and other familiar family members on the table and allow the kids to have fun looking through them, sharing stories, and passing them around. Or try one of these fun personalized games using old family pictures!
4 || Place a bag of mini marshmallows and toothpicks at the table and allow the children to work together to build a masterpiece like these beauties from The Artful Parent!
5 || You can never go wrong with a pile of picture books, coloring books, or Thanksgiving printable activity pages at the table (From KC Edventures)!
6 || Have baskets of Legos
7 || Have kids card games
8 || Try this partner drawing activity! Kids can play with their neighbor and then switch partners!
9 || Turkey Finger Puppets. Enough said.
10 || Give each child a straw and a pile of feathers. Can they use their straws to suck up a feather and place it in a bowl? The first child to get all of their feathers in the bowl wins!
11 || Give each child a piece of white paper. Place a pile of crayons in the center of the table. Have each child draw and decorate their own personal picture. It could be a fabulous turkey, family portrait, or a picture of something they are thankful for. Next, have each child cut their picture into 5-8 pieces. The children can take turns swapping and putting each other’s “puzzles” back together.
12 || Check out this cute dinner table tic tac toe idea from Repeat Crafter Me. A super easy and fun way to keep little fingers busy!
13 || On the paper table cloth or blank paper, have kids trace objects they find on the table (silverware, plates, cups) or around the house. Then, challenge them to match the objects to the correct outlines, like a puzzle.
14 || Play “statue”. Designate the oldest child at the table to start the game, telling him to freeze like a statue at a random time during the meal (maybe as he’s taking a bite of food or a sip of his drink). See how long it takes the other children to notice and imitate the child’s frozen position. The game continues with the next oldest child at the table.
15 || Table Topics. Try this fun card game with tons of conversation starters to get the whole family involved! Great for a wide range of ages!
What are your favorite ways to keep kids occupied at the dinner table? Do you have some tried and true dinner table games to share? Email us at theinspiredtreehouse@gmail.com and let us know!
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