Thanksgiving printable games are one of my favorite ways to keep the holiday fun and stress-free.
When my son was younger, having a mix of ready-to-play activities made it easy to keep him busy while I cooked or set the table.
These games also turned into traditions, things we all looked forward to pulling out each November.
From scavenger hunts and trivia to bingo and word scrambles, the printables here work just as well at the kids’ table as they do for a big family gathering, giving everyone something to laugh about together.
Fun & Free Thanksgiving Printable Games
Looking for a simple way to keep everyone entertained on Thanksgiving Day?
These printable games are easy to set up and guaranteed to bring plenty of laughs.
Whether you’re playing with cousins around the kids’ table or getting the whole family involved, they’re a lighthearted way to make the holiday even more memorable.
Thanksgiving Matching Game
This memory game has always been a hit in our house, especially with younger kids. With 12 Thanksgiving-themed images, it’s simple to print, cut, and play. I recommend laminating the cards if you want to reuse them year after year, it makes them sturdier for little hands. When my son was preschool age, he loved racing to find pairs, and it gave us an easy way to practice taking turns and building concentration skills.
Scavenger hunts are my go-to when kids start getting restless, and this turkey version works indoors or outside. Just hide the turkey cards around the house or yard, hand out the printable sheets, and let the kids start searching. Small prizes like stickers or a piece of candy kept my son motivated when he was younger, but honestly, the thrill of finding each turkey was usually enough. Great for mixed-age groups because older kids can help the younger ones.
If you want something more challenging, these rhyming scavenger hunt clues are perfect. Instead of just spotting a picture, kids follow hints that lead them to the next hiding spot. My son loved this twist when he was about 8, it felt more like a treasure hunt than a game. I’d suggest writing numbers on the back of each clue so you can keep them in order if things get shuffled mid-hunt. It’s an easy way to add excitement without a lot of prep.
Bingo is always a crowd-pleaser, and this turkey version is one we’ve pulled out at family dinners for years. The printable set comes with five boards and calling cards, so it works well for small groups. I usually print on cardstock and slip the boards into plastic sleeves so we can use dry-erase markers instead of chips, much less cleanup and you can reuse them every Thanksgiving.
Crosswords are such a nice way to keep kids engaged without the noise of bigger group games. This Thanksgiving puzzle mixes in holiday words and simple clues, making it a good fit for upper elementary and even middle school kids. When my son first tried one, he liked working alongside a grandparent so they could puzzle it out together, which turned into a sweet bonding activity. In a classroom, it works well as a quiet station activity or even as a warm-up before a lesson.
This version of bingo feels a little more traditional, but it’s still holiday-themed and fun for all ages. With five boards included, it’s easy to get a group of kids or cousins playing while the adults finish up in the kitchen. When my son was younger, we used candy corn as bingo markers, which added to the excitement (and gave him a sweet treat at the end). If you want to stretch the game, play “blackout” instead of just a line.
These placemats saved me so many times during Thanksgiving dinner prep. They’re filled with tic-tac-toe, coloring, and simple games, which means the kids stay happily occupied at the table. I’ve found they print best on cardstock so crayons don’t tear through the paper. My son loved showing off his completed placemat each year, it became part of our tradition, right alongside the turkey.
This I Spy game is a favorite because it’s easy to pull out with no prep and it works for a wide range of ages. The printable comes in color and black-and-white, so kids can count or color as they go. My son used to love making it a race to see who could finish first, while younger cousins just enjoyed coloring the turkeys and pumpkins as they searched. Teachers can use it as a calm-down activity too, since it helps with focus and visual scanning skills without kids realizing they’re practicing them.
This one is great for older kids and teens who might feel too old for coloring or bingo. Give them the printable list and their phone cameras, then send them off in teams to capture photos of fall and Thanksgiving items. When my son played with his cousins, they loved turning it into a timed challenge. The photos made for fun memories to look back on after dinner.
A word search always feels like a calmer option, which is perfect when you need a few quiet minutes. This one has 15 themed words, and I usually give it to my son while I’m finishing up in the kitchen. It’s also an easy way to sneak in spelling and vocabulary practice without it feeling like schoolwork. For younger kids, highlight the word list so they can cross them off as they go, it helps with focus.
Mad Libs are always a laugh in our house, and Thanksgiving versions are no exception. Kids fill in the blanks with silly words, and suddenly you’ve got a story that has everyone giggling around the table. When my son was younger, we’d let him pick the words, and the whole family would read the finished story together. It’s a great way to sneak in a little grammar practice while still keeping things fun.
Trivia is one of those games that works across generations. Print out the questions, and you’ve got instant dinner-table entertainment. I like to mix it up by forming teams, kids vs. adults usually gets competitive fast! Some of the questions spark fun conversations about history and traditions, so it doubles as a learning opportunity too. I recommend printing the answer sheet separately so kids don’t accidentally peek.
This word scramble is a quick filler activity, especially for kids who love puzzles. My son liked racing against the clock to solve them, and we’d sometimes make it more interesting by offering a prize for the fastest time. If you’re using it in the classroom, let kids work in pairs so they can collaborate, it keeps everyone engaged and adds a bit of teamwork to the challenge.
Even though it’s not strictly Thanksgiving, fall bingo fits nicely into the season. I used this one as a warm-up in the weeks leading up to the holiday, especially for younger kids still practicing taking turns. The colorful cards made it more engaging, and it worked well for a mixed-age group. If you want to tie it into Thanksgiving Day itself, you can swap the markers for candy corn or pumpkin seeds.
Scattergories is one of those games that always gets loud and silly, which makes it perfect for a holiday crowd. The Thanksgiving version has themed categories like “fall foods” or “things you’re thankful for,” and it’s amazing how creative kids can get under the time pressure. When we’ve played, my son loved coming up with answers no one else had thought of, it gave him bragging rights at the table. I suggest keeping a timer handy to keep the pace moving.
This one is quick to set up and fun for kids who like dice games. Each player rolls, colors in the matching feather, and the first to finish their turkey wins. When my son was younger, he and his cousins would play round after round, often trying to make the “silliest” colored turkeys. It’s a great activity for classrooms too, since it only needs dice, crayons, and the printable.
Food bingo is a fun twist that’s especially good for preschool and early elementary kids. The cards feature Thanksgiving dishes, which makes it easy for little ones to connect the game to what’s on the table later. I’ve used this with younger kids while the older ones were playing trivia, and it kept everyone included without being too tricky. Printing in color makes the food images really pop.
This one is flexible and can be customized to fit your group. You can add your own prompts or questions, so it works for kids practicing spelling words, math facts, or just silly challenges. I tried this once with Thanksgiving-themed dares like “gobble like a turkey” or “say three things you’re thankful for,” and it was a hit. It’s also handy for teachers who want to adapt it to a classroom lesson.
If you’ve got kids who like word challenges, this game is a great pick. The goal is to come up with Thanksgiving-related words for each letter of the alphabet, and it’s harder than it looks once you get past the easy ones like “turkey” and “pumpkin.” My son and I used to play as a team, and it turned into a fun way to stretch his vocabulary. It works really well in classrooms if you split kids into small groups.
Sometimes the simplest games are the ones kids go back to again and again. Thanksgiving Tic Tac Toe is just that—it’s easy, quick, and works for all ages. When my son was little, we’d print a few boards and let him play with his cousins while waiting for dessert. If you want it to last longer, print on cardstock and laminate so kids can use dry-erase markers year after year.
This printable is one of my favorites for keeping kids quietly entertained. The pictures are colorful and packed with detail, so it holds their attention longer than you’d expect. My son loved racing me to see who could find all the items first (he always won). In a classroom, it’s great for building observation skills and vocabulary, and it works well as a calm-down activity when kids need a quieter moment.
Pictionary is a classic, and the Thanksgiving version always gets plenty of laughs. We’ve played this one after dinner with a big sheet of paper and markers, and it’s hilarious to see how creative (and sometimes unrecognizable) the drawings turn out. Younger kids can draw simpler prompts while older kids and adults get the trickier ones, which makes it easy to include everyone.
These printable questions are such a fun way to spark conversations, especially around the dinner table. They’re lighthearted enough for kids but still entertaining for adults. My son always liked coming up with his own “would you rather” challenges once he got the hang of it. This game works great during car rides if you’re traveling for the holiday too—just print the cards and go.
Charades is another family favorite that doesn’t need much setup. The Thanksgiving version includes themed actions and characters that kids love acting out. We once had my son “be a turkey escaping from the farmer,” and everyone was in stitches. It’s especially good after dinner when kids have extra energy to burn off. For younger children, act out the words with them so they don’t feel left out.
This one is perfect if you’re teaching or hosting a larger group of kids. The printable clues are designed to get kids moving while still working together as a team. When I’ve used scavenger hunts in group settings, I like to mix older and younger kids so everyone gets a chance to participate. It keeps the game organized while still giving that sense of adventure.
The “Grateful Dice Game” is a sweet way to build gratitude into the day. Each roll prompts players to share something they’re thankful for, which makes it great around the dinner table. When my son was younger, I found it helped him think beyond just “turkey” and “toys” and start sharing more thoughtful answers. Print a few dice and let everyone take turns—it’s simple but meaningful.
This scavenger hunt works really well for younger kids who aren’t ready to read clues yet. Instead, they search for images from the printable list and mark them off as they go. I used this once during a family gathering, and it was the perfect way to keep the little ones occupied while the big kids played trivia. Clipboards or mini boards make it easier if you’re playing outside.
Clare Brown is the founder of Homeschool of 1, where she shares free printables and creative learning activities for kids in preschool through 8th grade. Her work has been featured in Parade, HuffPost, Business Insider, Motherly, AOL, and Yahoo. Read more.