Family Game Night: Thanksgiving Edition - Fun Games to Play After Dinner
Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, delicious food. But once the plates are cleared and the leftovers are packed away, what's next? Enter the Thanksgiving Family Game Night!
This guide will provide you with a variety of fun, engaging games perfect for all ages, ensuring that your Thanksgiving celebration continues long after the last slice of pumpkin pie has been devoured.
Why Have a Thanksgiving Game Night?
Before we dive into the games, let's consider why incorporating a game night into your Thanksgiving celebration is such a great idea:
Promotes Family Bonding: Games bring people together, encouraging interaction and shared experiences.
Aids Digestion: Light activity after a big meal can help with digestion.
Creates Lasting Memories: Fun, laughter, and friendly competition make for unforgettable holiday moments.
Keeps Everyone Engaged: Games prevent post-dinner lulls and keep the celebration lively.
Inclusive for All Ages: With the right selection of games, everyone from grandparents to young children can participate.
Establishes New Traditions: A Thanksgiving game night can become a cherished annual tradition.
Now, let's explore a variety of games suitable for your Thanksgiving celebration!
Classic Games with a Thanksgiving Twist
1. Thanksgiving Charades
Materials Needed:
Slips of paper
Pen or pencil
Bowl or hat for drawing slips
Timer (optional)
How to Play:
Before the game, write down Thanksgiving-related words or phrases on slips of paper (e.g., "carving the turkey," "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," "football").
Divide into teams.
One player from a team draws a slip and acts out the word or phrase without speaking.
Their team tries to guess within a set time limit.
Teams take turns, earning points for correct guesses.
Tip: For younger players, you can use pictures instead of words on the slips.
2. Thanksgiving Pictionary
Materials Needed:
Large pad of paper or whiteboard
Markers or dry-erase markers
Timer
Thanksgiving-themed word list
How to Play:
Similar to charades, but players draw instead of act.
Divide into teams.
One player draws a Thanksgiving-related word or phrase while their team guesses.
Set a time limit for each round.
Teams earn points for correct guesses.
Variation: Use a gratitude theme, where players draw things they're thankful for.
3. Thanksgiving Bingo
Materials Needed:
Bingo cards with Thanksgiving-themed items (you can create these or find printable versions online)
Markers or tokens for covering spaces
A bag of small papers with the items written on them for drawing
How to Play:
Distribute Bingo cards to all players.
Draw items from the bag and call them out.
Players mark off the items on their cards.
The first player to get a line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) calls out "Bingo!" and wins.
Tip: Create cards with both pictures and words to accommodate all ages and reading levels.
Active Games for Burning Off Turkey
4. Turkey Waddle Relay
Materials Needed:
Balloons (preferably brown or orange)
Space to move around
How to Play:
Divide into teams.
Each player must put a balloon between their knees and waddle to a designated spot and back.
Pass the balloon to the next team member without using hands.
The first team to have all members complete the waddle wins.
Safety Tip: Ensure there's enough space and remove any obstacles to prevent trips and falls.
5. Pumpkin Bowling
Materials Needed:
Small pumpkins or gourds
Empty plastic bottles or pins
Open space (indoors or outdoors)
How to Play:
Set up the bottles or pins in a triangular formation.
Players take turns rolling the pumpkin to knock down the pins.
Keep score as in regular bowling, or simplify by counting total pins knocked down.
Variation: For indoor play, use a foam ball decorated to look like a pumpkin.
6. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Materials Needed:
List of Thanksgiving-related items to find
Bags for collecting items (optional)
How to Play:
Create a list of items commonly found around the house or yard during Thanksgiving (e.g., a turkey baster, a leaf, something orange).
Divide into teams or play individually.
Set a time limit for finding as many items as possible.
The team or person with the most items at the end wins.
Tip: For younger children, use pictures instead of words on the list.
Word Games and Trivia
7. Thanksgiving Word Scramble
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pens or pencils
List of scrambled Thanksgiving-related words
How to Play:
Create a list of Thanksgiving words with the letters scrambled (e.g., YTURKE for TURKEY).
Distribute the list to players or teams.
Set a time limit for unscrambling as many words as possible.
The player or team with the most correct words wins.
Variation: For a more challenging game, use phrases instead of single words.
8. Thanksgiving Trivia
Materials Needed:
List of Thanksgiving-related trivia questions
Paper and pens for keeping score
How to Play:
Prepare a list of trivia questions about Thanksgiving history, traditions, and food.
Divide into teams or play individually.
Ask questions and have players write down their answers.
Review answers and keep score.
The team or player with the most correct answers wins.
Tip: Include a mix of easy and difficult questions to engage all knowledge levels.
9. Thanksgiving Categories
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pens or pencils
Timer
How to Play:
Choose a letter of the alphabet.
Players have to write down Thanksgiving-related words that start with that letter in various categories (e.g., food, decorations, feelings).
Set a time limit (e.g., 2 minutes).
Compare lists. Unique answers get more points.
Variation: Play in teams for added collaboration and fun.
Creative and Artistic Games
10. Thanksgiving Puppet Show
Materials Needed:
Paper bags
Art supplies (markers, glue, construction paper, etc.)
Space to perform
How to Play:
Divide into small groups.
Each group creates puppets using paper bags and art supplies.
Groups have 15-20 minutes to create a short Thanksgiving-themed skit.
Each group performs their skit for the family.
Tip: This game is great for engaging children and adults in creative storytelling.
11. Gratitude Portrait Gallery
Materials Needed:
Paper
Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
How to Play:
Each player draws a portrait of someone else in the family.
On the portrait, they write things they're grateful for about that person.
Create a "gallery" by displaying all the portraits.
Take turns guessing who each portrait represents and sharing the gratitude messages.
Variation: For larger gatherings, draw names to determine who each person will draw.
Team-Building Games
12. Thanksgiving Story Chain
Materials Needed:
None (just imagination!)
How to Play:
Sit in a circle.
One person starts a Thanksgiving-themed story with one sentence.
Go around the circle, with each person adding one sentence to the story.
Continue for a set number of rounds or until the story reaches a natural conclusion.
Tip: Record the story to play back and enjoy the often hilarious results!
13. Thankful Memories Sharing
Materials Needed:
None
How to Play:
Go around the room and have each person share a specific memory from a past Thanksgiving that they're thankful for.
Encourage detailed storytelling to bring the memories to life.
Variation: For large groups, break into smaller circles to ensure everyone gets a chance to share.
Quiet Games for Winding Down
14. Thanksgiving Mad Libs
Materials Needed:
Thanksgiving-themed Mad Libs (can be found online or created)
Pens or pencils
How to Play:
Without seeing the story, one player asks others for words to fill in the blanks (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.).
Once all blanks are filled, read the completed story aloud.
Tip: Create your own Mad Libs based on family Thanksgiving traditions for personalized fun.
15. Gratitude Jar
Materials Needed:
Jar or bowl
Small pieces of paper
Pens or pencils
How to Play:
Throughout the day, have family members write down things they're grateful for on small pieces of paper.
Collect the papers in the jar.
After dinner, take turns drawing and reading the gratitude notes aloud.
Variation: Keep the jar going throughout the year and read all the notes on next Thanksgiving.
Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving Game Night
Prepare in Advance: Gather all necessary materials before Thanksgiving Day.
Consider Your Audience: Choose games that are appropriate for the ages and interests of your family members.
Be Inclusive: Ensure that there are games that everyone can participate in, regardless of physical abilities or age.
Create Teams Thoughtfully: Mix up generations and family units to encourage bonding.
Have Prizes: Small, fun prizes can add excitement to the games. Consider Thanksgiving-themed items or small treats.
Take Breaks: Allow time between games for snacking, chatting, or just relaxing.
Be Flexible: Have a variety of games ready, but be willing to change plans based on the group's energy and interests.
Document the Fun: Take photos or videos of the game night to look back on in future years.
Create New Traditions: Consider making specific games annual traditions that family members can look forward to.
End on a High Note: Conclude the game night with a calming activity like the Gratitude Jar to bring the focus back to thankfulness.
Adapting Games for Different Group Sizes
For Small Groups (5-10 people):
Focus on games that everyone can play together, like Thanksgiving Charades or Story Chain.
Consider round-robin tournaments for games like Pumpkin Bowling.
For Medium Groups (10-20 people):
Divide into teams for games like Thanksgiving Pictionary or Trivia.
Set up multiple game stations and let people rotate through them.
For Large Groups (20+ people):
Organize a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt that can accommodate many participants.
Play Thanksgiving Bingo, which can easily scale for large groups.
Virtual Thanksgiving Game Night
If some family members can't be present in person, consider adapting some games for virtual play:
Use video conferencing tools to play games like Charades or Pictionary.
Create online quizzes for Thanksgiving Trivia.
Play digital versions of board games that allow for remote players.
Have a virtual Gratitude Circle where everyone shares what they're thankful for.
Conclusion: Creating Lasting Memories
A Thanksgiving Game Night is more than just a way to pass the time after dinner. It's an opportunity to strengthen family bonds, create new traditions, and make lasting memories. The laughter, friendly competition, and shared experiences will be remembered long after the leftovers are gone.
As you plan your Thanksgiving celebration this year, consider incorporating some of these games into your festivities. Whether you're crafting turkeys from hand traces, waddling across the room with a balloon, or sharing cherished memories, you're building a richer, more interactive holiday experience.
Remember, the goal is not to crown a champion, but to bring your family closer together. So pick the games that best suit your family's personality, adapt them as needed, and most importantly, have fun!
May your Thanksgiving be filled with delicious food, heartfelt gratitude, and the joyous sounds of family game night. Happy Thanksgiving and happy playing!
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