Fun Thanksgiving Activities to Do with Toddler Boys

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down, enjoy family, and create lasting memories with your little ones. While the holiday often revolves around food, it’s also a great opportunity to bond with your toddler through fun, hands-on activities.

For parents of adventurous boys, keeping them entertained during all the holiday hustle can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best Thanksgiving-themed activities to do with your toddler boys—keeping the day fun, exciting, and full of gratitude!

1. DIY Turkey Hats

What’s more adorable than seeing your toddler running around the house in a handmade turkey hat? This simple craft is easy for little hands and will keep your toddler entertained for hours. All you need is some construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers. Let your toddler help by choosing colors and gluing the turkey “feathers” onto the hat. Once it’s done, they can wear it proudly during Thanksgiving dinner!

Pro Tip: Turn this into a family affair by having everyone make their own turkey hat. It’s a fun way to get everyone in the holiday spirit and is sure to lead to some great family photos.

2. Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt

Before the big meal, take your toddler on an outdoor nature walk and scavenger hunt. Create a simple list of fall-related items to find, like colorful leaves, acorns, pinecones, or small rocks. Exploring the outdoors allows your toddler to burn off some energy while soaking in the beauty of the season. Plus, collecting these little treasures can turn into a fun post-walk craft, where they can use their findings to create a Thanksgiving-themed nature collage.

Pro Tip: Dress your little one in cozy, durable clothes like our Little Rad Things Flannel Shirts and Jogger Pants—perfect for staying warm and stylish during outdoor adventures.

3. Thanksgiving Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a fantastic way to engage your toddler in a hands-on learning experience. For a Thanksgiving-themed bin, fill it with items like dried corn, leaves, small pumpkins, or plastic turkeys. Add some spoons and small bowls for scooping and pouring, allowing your toddler to explore textures and practice fine motor skills. This activity is great for keeping your little one occupied while you prep for the big meal.

4. Baking with Your Little Helper

Toddlers love to be involved in the kitchen, and Thanksgiving offers plenty of opportunities to let them lend a hand. Choose simple tasks like stirring the batter, sprinkling flour, or decorating cookies. You can even create fun, kid-friendly treats like turkey-shaped cookies or pumpkin-flavored muffins. While things might get a bit messy, it’s all part of the fun—and the memories you create together will be worth it.

Pro Tip: Check out our Little Rad Things Aprons, perfect for keeping your toddler clean while they help in the kitchen!

5. Gratitude Tree Craft

Teach your toddler the importance of thankfulness with a Gratitude Tree craft. Start by cutting out a tree trunk and branches from brown construction paper and taping it to the wall. Then, have your toddler help cut out or color paper leaves. On each leaf, write something your family is thankful for, and let your toddler glue them to the tree. It’s a meaningful way to introduce the concept of gratitude while involving your little one in a hands-on project.

6. Turkey Trot Obstacle Course

If your toddler is full of energy, why not set up a fun Thanksgiving-themed obstacle course in the backyard or living room? Use pillows, chairs, and blankets to create “obstacles” and challenges. For example, have them crawl under a blanket “tunnel,” jump over pillows, or weave through chairs. To make it extra fun, encourage them to run through the course pretending to be a turkey! It’s a great way to keep them active and burn off some pre-feast excitement.

7. Thanksgiving Storytime

After all the crafting and running around, wind down the day with a cozy storytime featuring Thanksgiving-themed books. Choose books that focus on family, gratitude, and the fall season to help your toddler understand the meaning behind the holiday. Snuggling up together for a quiet moment before the big meal will help create a sense of calm and connection.

8. Handprint Turkey Keepsake

Create a memorable keepsake by helping your toddler make handprint turkeys. All you need is some paint and a piece of paper. Dip your toddler’s hand in paint and press it onto the paper—then use markers to draw the turkey’s face and legs. You can repeat this activity each year to track how much your toddler has grown, and it also makes for a cute Thanksgiving decoration.

Looking for the perfect outfit for your little rockstar this Thanksgiving? Check out our new arrivals at LRT and keep your littles looking cool and comfy during all the holiday fun.