Be intentional in how you celebrate the holidays this year when you create a Thanksgiving itinerary full of fun family activities!

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Make Your Thanksgiving a Day to Celebrate

Don’t let your Thanksgiving holiday be focused on a big meal and figuring out where everyone will sleep, instead turn it into an all-day celebration!

No need to break the bank or make it complicated! Just keep it fun and centered on gratitude.

Here are 10 things you can do so that you can celebrate the entire day of Thanksgiving with intention.

10 Family Activities On Thanksgiving

1. Eat a special breakfast

Mark the occasion with something you don’t normally eat. For example: cinnamon rolls, donuts, monkey bread, French toast, egg casserole, and quiche. You can also find lots of recipes here.

2. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The parade usually starts at 9 and then wraps up around 12 with Santa waving hello to mark the start of the Christmas season. We usually like to have it on in the background in order to make our morning more festive.

3. Do a few gratitude activities

Focus on what the Bible teaches us about what we have to be thankful for when you use these Gratitude Activities for Kids:

4. Set out a few snack trays

Because Thanksgiving dinner is usually a huge undertaking, set out a few snacks for lunchtime to keep everyone busy and still hungry for an early dinner. Premade snacks, fruit, and veggie trays are perfect! Warm apple cider is also a great way to keep guests cozy!

5. Decorate a tablecloth or make Thanksgiving crafts

These throwaway tablecloths are perfect for keeping little ones busy. Also adding a few simple crafts helps too!

6. Start on a puzzle or play a card game

This is a great activity for adults to have to pass the time while waiting for dinner to be served. A deck of cards or a table with board games is a quick addition to your Thanksgiving itinerary.

7. Make phone calls to loved ones

Someone can’t make it to dinner? Then call or text to tell them you’re thankful to have them in your life.

8. Family chain prayer

If your family gathering is small, a great way to acknowledge that the holiday is about gratitude is to have a chain prayer where each child takes turns to tell what they are thankful for before the meal is served.

9. Eat Thanksgiving dinner

Enjoy the big meal whether it’s delivered, or made from scratch in the kitchen!

10. Watch a family movie together

Wrap up the night with a cozy movie—maybe a Christmas one to kick off the holidays!

You Might Also Like…

Want to practice gratitude as a family any time of year? Then check out these Gratitude Activities for Kids in the shop:

What traditions will you add to your Thanksgiving itinerary? Before you go, here are a few other seasonal posts to check out:

Happy Thanksgiving!

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