This post shows you 30 Impressive Thanksgiving Gratitude Games to Do with Loved Ones.
Thanksgiving is all about celebrating gratitude and gathering with loved ones. It’s a time to reflect on the things we’re thankful for and share joyful moments with family and friends. But beyond the delicious food and festive atmosphere, it can be challenging to find ways to make everyone feel included, especially in a meaningful and fun way. That’s where gratitude games come in! These games are perfect for bringing everyone together, sparking laughter, and making each person reflect on what they’re thankful for.
In this article, we’ve rounded up 30 impressive gratitude games that are simple, fun, and ideal for people of all ages. From creative activities to lighthearted challenges, these games are sure to make Thanksgiving extra memorable.
So, whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or a cozy dinner, here are some fantastic gratitude games to make your Thanksgiving celebration more heartfelt and engaging!
30 IMPRESSIVE THANKSGIVING GRATITUDE GAMES TO DO WITH LOVED ONES
1. Gratitude Jar
Each person writes down something they’re thankful for on a small piece of paper and places it in a jar. After dinner, read the notes aloud and guess who wrote each one.
2. Thanksgiving Bingo
Create Bingo cards with Thanksgiving-themed items or things to be thankful for. Players mark off each item they experience or see during the day. First to get Bingo wins a small prize!
3. Thankful Charades
Write down thankful phrases (e.g., “I’m thankful for my pet” or “a cozy home”) on slips of paper. Each person picks one and acts it out without speaking. Everyone tries to guess what they’re expressing gratitude for!
4. The Thankfulness Chain
Have everyone write what they’re grateful for on paper strips, then link them together to form a gratitude chain. By the end of the night, you’ll have a long, colorful chain of gratitude to display.
5. Gratitude Pictionary
Just like regular Pictionary, but each drawing should reflect something the artist is grateful for. The family guesses, and the correct answer wins the drawer a point.
6. Alphabet Gratitude Game
Go around the table and have each person name something they’re thankful for, following the order of the alphabet. Start with A and go all the way to Z, if you can!
7. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt with clues that lead to items or areas that reflect thankfulness. For example, a clue could lead to a cozy blanket (thankful for warmth) or a family photo (thankful for family).
8. Thankful “Two Truths and a Lie”
Each person shares two things they’re thankful for and one thing that’s not true. Everyone else guesses which one is the “lie.”
9. Gratitude Hot Potato
Pass around a small item while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the item says one thing they’re grateful for. Keep passing until everyone’s shared.
10. Fill-in-the-Blank Gratitude Cards
Give each person a card with fill-in-the-blank statements like “I’m grateful for ___ because ___.” Each guest fills them out, and then you can read them out loud as a group.
11. Thankful Ball Toss
Gather everyone in a circle. Toss a soft ball to someone and ask them to share something they’re thankful for before tossing it to the next person.
12. Guess the Gratitude
Have each person write down something they’re thankful for anonymously. Mix up the papers, read them aloud, and everyone guesses who wrote each one.
13. Family Gratitude Tree
Create a “tree” on a wall or board with paper leaves. Each leaf represents something someone is thankful for, and by the end of the day, you’ll have a beautiful gratitude tree.
14. Spin the Gratitude Wheel
Create a wheel with gratitude prompts (e.g., “something that made you smile today” or “a person who helped you this year”). Spin the wheel and share your answer!
15. Gratitude Mad Libs
Create Mad Libs-style sentences with blanks for family members to fill in, like “I’m grateful for ___ because ___.” The results are always funny and heartwarming!
16. Thanksgiving Gratitude Charms
Fill a bag with small charms, each symbolizing something to be thankful for (a heart for love, a house for shelter, etc.). Each guest picks one and shares why it’s meaningful to them.
17. Memory Sharing Circle
Everyone shares a memory from the past year that made them feel grateful. This is a great way to reflect and share meaningful moments.
18. Thankfulness Art Activity
Provide art supplies and let everyone create something that represents their gratitude, whether it’s a drawing, a small sculpture, or even a short poem.
19. Gratitude Guess Who
Each person writes down a thankful memory with someone in the group, and everyone guesses who it’s about.
20. Grateful Balloon Pop
Place slips of paper with things to be thankful for in balloons, inflate them, and pop each one. The person who pops the balloon shares why they’re thankful for the item.
21. Storytime Gratitude
Share a family story that showcases gratitude. Each family member can take turns adding to the story, making it a collaborative experience.
22. Thankful Photo Collage
Bring out photos that represent things you’re thankful for and create a collage as a group.
23. Reverse Gift Giving
Everyone writes down a personal “gift” (like “I’ll wash the dishes tonight” or “I’ll share my favorite recipe”). Each person draws a card and gets a surprise gift to enjoy.
24. Gratitude Relay Race
Form teams and have each person write one thing they’re thankful for before passing it to the next teammate. The first team to finish wins!
25. Thankful Tablecloth
Use a plain cloth as a tablecloth and let everyone write what they’re thankful for. Over the years, it becomes a beautiful family keepsake.
26. Thankful Duck, Duck, Goose
Just like the classic game, but each player says something they’re thankful for before tagging someone.
27. Name That Blessing
Each person says something they’re thankful for, and the group tries to guess why they chose that blessing.
28. Secret Gratitude Notes
Write a secret note to a family member expressing why you’re thankful for them. Slip it to them during dinner for a sweet surprise.
29. Gratitude Freeze Dance
Play music and dance around, but when the music stops, everyone freezes and shouts out something they’re thankful for.
30. What’s in the Bag? Gratitude Edition
Fill a bag with small items that represent things to be thankful for. Each person picks an item and explains how it symbolizes gratitude for them.
These 30 Thanksgiving gratitude games can turn your gathering into a warm celebration full of shared appreciation and laughter. No matter how you choose to celebrate, these games will bring everyone closer and remind you of the true spirit of Thanksgiving – giving thanks and cherishing the special people in your life.
This post showed you 30 Impressive Thanksgiving Gratitude Games to Do with Loved Ones.