Thanksgiving is here! Time to get together with friends, family, and loved ones. The holiday is known as a day to remember everything we are grateful for, share a big meal, and bond with those that we love the most. I am always looking for different activities to do before and after the big meal, I am very active and love taking the time to share memorable moments with my friends and family. If you are struggling on where to start with bonding activities this year, here are a couple of ideas that I hope helps you out. I hope you have a beautiful holiday, I am very grateful for you and always following my journey along!

Planning for Thanksgiving Activities

Make a List of Activities

Start by making a list of activities that you and your guests would enjoy. Consider activities that are appropriate for all ages and skill levels, such as board games, card games, and outdoor games. You can also include crafts, cooking, and baking activities that will keep everyone busy and engaged. Bonus points if you have activities for the youngest ones in the family, they will be entertained, get their energy out, and parents can get a very well deserved break.

Assign Roles

Assign roles to your guests to ensure that everyone is involved in the planning and execution of the activities. For example, you can assign someone to be in charge of the games, someone to lead the craft activities, and someone to organize the cooking and baking activities. Another tip for little ones: They love to be helpful and part of things. Have them bring things to you or help cleanup at the end of activities.

Prepare the Space

Make sure that you have enough space to accommodate all of your guests and the activities that you have planned. If you're planning outdoor activities, make sure that you have enough space and equipment.

Cooking and Baking Sessions

Thanksgiving is all about food, so why not make cooking and baking a family affair? Gather everyone in the kitchen and prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast together. Not only will it be a fun activity, but it will also create lasting memories. Make sure that if you make cooking or baking part of your activities, to have easy recipes ready with enough copies of the ingredients and instructions for people not to be cramming over one piece of paper. Get adults to be part of the more complex recipes and to supervise younger ones in the kitchen. For kids, use dessert recipes that they will enjoy. Remember that part of the fun is making a mess and just enjoying the moment, so if the kitchen is a mess, relax, as the memories that you are making is the most important at this moment.

Indoor Activities

Board Games

Board games are a classic way to spend time indoors and bond with others. There are countless options for all ages and skill levels. Some popular options include Monopoly, Scrabble, and my favorite: UNO. We get really competitive here, so it is a lot of fun and laughs.

To make the most of your board game experience, consider setting up a tournament with prizes for the winners. You could also try playing a game that requires teamwork.

Movie Marathon

If you're in the mood for something more low-key, consider hosting a movie marathon. Choose a theme, like holiday movies or classic comedies, and let everyone vote on their favorites. Make sure to stock up on snacks and cozy blankets for a comfortable viewing experience.

To make your movie marathon more interactive, consider playing movie-themed games during breaks. For example, you could play a game of movie trivia or create a drinking game based on certain movie tropes.

Volunteer Work

Thanksgiving is a great time to give back to the community, and volunteering is an excellent way to do so. Here are some volunteer activities you can do with your family and friends.

Community Service

Volunteering for community service is a great way to help those in need and stay grounded. With the holidays, we sometimes take for granted all we have and get as gifts, it is important to remember to also give back to the community and those in need. You can volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen to help prepare and serve meals to the homeless. You can also volunteer at a local hospital or nursing home to visit and spend time with patients who may not have family or friends nearby. If you are looking for more hands-on work, you can volunteer for a community cleanup or beautification project.

Donating Food

Another way to give back during Thanksgiving is by donating food. You can donate canned goods or non-perishable food items to a local food bank or shelter. You can also donate a turkey or other Thanksgiving meal items to a family in need.

If you want to get more involved, you can organize a food drive in your community or workplace. You can also volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen to help sort and distribute those food donations.

We hope that all of these activities help keep your Thanksgiving day filled with fun, laughters, service, and love.

We would love to hear how you spend your Thanksgiving! Share with us in the comments or through social media!