9+ Fun & Easy Gratitude Activities for Kids

4 min read September 13, 2026 Haeley Giambalvo
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Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to teach children about gratitude. There are so many fun ways for children to reflect on all the things they are thankful for. Download this Free Gratitude Game Printable here for an activity kids are sure to love. Get crafty with making a thankful tree that can serve as a centerpiece. Keep it simple with preprinted prompts such as these Inspirational Gratitude Notes. These gratitude activities are the perfect thing to keep young guests busy while the Thanksgiving meal is in the oven.

1.
Thankful Turkey Craft Kit

This Thankful Turkey Craft Kit is simple to assemble with pre-cut paper pieces. Once kids have made their turkey and written their name on it, they can write down the things they are thankful for on each feather and add it to the turkey.

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2.
Gratitude Game Printable

Download this Free Gratitude Game Printable and pair it with some fun-size packets of M&M candies for a game that kids will love. Have kids take turns picking an M&M from their bag and then share something they are thankful based on the color of the M&M.

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3.
Thankful Tree

Another fun gratitude project involving candy! Kids can fill DIY Mini Clear Ornament with these free printable "I am Thankful For..." strips and gold chocolate candy for a sweet treat. Decorate each ornament with Bright Turkey Feathers and silly googly eyes to make it look like a turkey and then add the ornaments to a tabletop tree for a fun Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Project by: Jamie of The Crafting Chicks

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4.
Give Thanks Wreath

Involve kids in a fun craft activity on Thanksgiving Day with these Give Thanks Wreath craft kits that come in a set of six. Kids will enjoy sticking the colored craft sticks onto the adhesive foam ring and then adding the turkey details. No glue required! You can further expand the gratitude exercise by having guests write things they are thankful for on the craft sticks around the wreath.

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5.
Gratitude Leaves

These Inspirational Thanksgiving Gratitude Notes are the perfect activity to involve the whole family at the Thanksgiving table. Leave several at each place setting (they each come with different prompts) along with a pen. After everyone fills them out, you can hang the leaves from a branch or scatter them down the table as part of the Thanksgiving decor.

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6.
Thankful Turkey Jar

Create this cute DIY Thankful Turkey Jar and pass out colored craft sticks to your guests. Have each person write down what they are thankful for on the craft sticks and then add the sticks to the jar, reading them to the group as they go. Pass around the jar until the turkey is full of feathers!

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7.
Praying Hands

Create some special decor for the Thanksgiving table with these thankful praying hands cut from cardstock. Fold a piece of cardstock in half and then trace around the child's hand, making sure their middle finger touches the fold. Cut around the hand, making sure the fold at the middle finger stays intact. This will hold the hands together when you open them up! Add letter stickers to spell "Give Thanks" or write what you are thankful for on the hands.

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8.
Thankful Tree Coloring Page

This free downloadable Thankful Tree Coloring Page is a great thing to have waiting at each spot at the kids' table along with some crayons or markers. Kids can color the tree and then write down what they are thankful for on each leaf.

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9.
Color Your Own Thankful Placemats

Another fun coloring activity at the Thanksgiving kids table is to let kids color their own placemats. These Blessings of Thanksgiving Placemats come in a set of 12 so you'll have plenty for all your guests.

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10.
DIY Washi Tape Thankful Tree

This Thanksgiving activity is simple yet impactful to help your family focus on all the reasons they are thankful. Create a tree out of washi tape and use the free printables to cut out leaves and a grateful banner to decorate the tree. Watch your tree grow as you add leaves throughout the month and write out all that you are grateful for.  

Project by: Ashley of The Littles and Me

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