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Thanksgiving break: small girl's feet in puddle with leaves

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15 things to do with kids over Thanksgiving break

The kids have some days off. With any luck, the parents do, too!

For many of us, the upcoming Thanksgiving break is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends. But what are you going to do with all the days off? There’s only so much stuffing you can eat and only so much holiday shopping a family can endure before the fatigue sets in.

So here are 15 things to do over Thanksgiving break that’ll get you moving, use your creativity, and maybe show some gratitude. Choose a few to do over the break and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Make Thanksgiving Day fancy

Not having family over and making it an intimate affair? Make the day special by changing up the menu. At my house, weā€™re forgoing the turkey in favor of a simple roast chicken, but my kids and husband do insist on cranberry sauce and ā€œtoo much pie.ā€ But even though you arenā€™t doing a daylong cook-fest (takeout, anyone?) you can still make the meal special. Have your kids make decorations for the table. Make it fancy and dress up for the family gathering or virtual call (from the waist up is just fine). Bring out the good napkins and fold them up in a special way. Itā€™ll make all that pie taste better.

[Related: Decorations for the table]

 

Make holiday cards and gifts

Get a head start on your holiday mailing. If your loved ones are in another country, even British Columbia, everything should be in the mail by early December. Within the U.S., itā€™s mid December. So put your kids to work making cards and writing notes. Your family will love them!

November 29 is Native American Heritage Day

Take some time to learn about local Indigenous People. A great place to start is the Hibulb Cultural Center website. Particularly good for kids: the stories in the ā€œStorytellingā€ section and the ā€œHistory Minuteā€ videos.

[ Related: This Thanksgiving, educate your family about Native history and culture ]

Neighborhood dinner

With the arrival of the usual winter viruses, you might want to get together with your neighbors or extended family to share in a potluck. On your block, travel from driveway to driveway and break some bread. You bring your own main dish. One household hosts appetizers, another hosts a couple of sides, and another supplies dessert. Eat at tables set up in the house or get together at a park picnic shelter.

Here is our guide to holiday cooking with the kids! Ā Need to bring a dish to the neighborhood dinner? We got you covered with our five kinds of stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving.

Go for a walk or a hike

You can do it in almost any weather (I draw the line at freezing rain, particularly if sideways). Itā€™s simple and safe, and you can go to different places depending on the time you have and the enthusiasm of your walking buddies.

Here are some places to try:

Easy and kid-friendly fall hikes in the Seattle area

5 beach walks for Seattle-area families on winter days

 

Visit a state park – Free on November 29th

Here are some lovely ones nearby. Bonus: Normally, you need to buy a Discover Pass, but in honor of Native American Heritage Day, all Washington State Parks are free on Friday, November 29th.

 

Watch a holiday film

When itā€™s too cold and dark to go outside, snuggling up on the couch with a hot cup of cocoa to watch a holiday movie is the perfect solution. Here is our list of family holiday films that everyone can enjoy!

 

Play board games and card games

Here are some great ones to try:

7 great games for a family game nightĀ 

11 cool games to play with your kids

 

Exercise gratitude

Remembering what you are thankful for is a documented way to boost mental health. Here’s a list of gratitude-boosting activities for kids.

 

Explore nature

Take a hike at one of these three magnificent hikes on the Eastside. Or stop by the body of water nearest you and watch the ducks hanging out there for the winter. Or spend some creative hours with playthings from nature.

 

Get crafty

You could try to make a pumpkin apple stamp or fall luminaries through our easy fall craft projects for kids.

 

Go on a Holiday train outing

Many of the Holiday trains start to open up and run in November, whether it is becoming a passenger on the Polar Express in Chehalis or exploring giant layouts of winter train villages with holiday festivities and fun! Check out our full list of family-friendly Holiday train outings in Seattle and the vicinity.

 

Go to the zoo or a light show

The Woodland Park Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and Cougar Mountain Zoo are all open. You could even go at night on a weekend to “Point Defiance Zoolights” or stop by one of these Holiday light displays and shows happening in the Seattle area.

 

Get into the holiday spirit

Thanksgiving break kicks off the holiday season with events leading right into December’s jolly goodness. Get into the holiday spirit by visiting a light show, attending a theatrical performance, or visiting a market. Check out our guide to holiday fun for the whole family and choose something that will be memorable for your family.

Read more:

40 Seattle area options for Thanksgiving takeout dine in

Point Defiance Zoo pathways of lightĀ 

About the Author

Fiona Cohen

Fiona Cohen lives in Ballard with her husband, two teenagers, a big vegetable garden and an absurd cat. She is the author of "Curious Kids Nature Guide," and is working on a new nature book for kids, to be published by Little Bigfoot in 2022.