Adventures & Moments with Wems

Of course, there's the Thanksgiving meal, but if you're spending the long weekend with the kids, it's also a nice opportunity to slow down, get outside, play a few games, and enjoy some family time together.

And you definitely don't need an elaborate Thanksgiving schedule to make the weekend feel special.

From easy activities at home to fall adventures outside, here are some Canadian Thanksgiving activities for kids and families that you can pick from depending on what your family feels like doing.

Sometimes the easiest family activity is simply getting everyone outside.

Head to a nearby park, walking trail, or neighbourhood with lots of trees and let the kids look for colourful leaves, pinecones, and other signs of fall.

You could even turn your walk into a simple scavenger hunt by looking for things like:

• A red leaf
• A yellow leaf
• A pinecone
• An acorn
• A bird
• A pumpkin
• Something shaped like a heart

No prizes necessary. 😂 Just see who can spot everything first.

Thanksgiving weekend is also a great excuse for one more fall farm day.

Depending on what's still open near you, you could spend a few hours picking pumpkins, visiting farm animals, going through a corn maze, or taking a wagon ride.

We've visited several fall farms as a family, and it's one of those outings that works well when you want to do something seasonal without planning an entire day.

This one is easy and doesn't require anything fancy.

Put out a jar or bowl with small pieces of paper and ask everyone to write down something they're thankful for.

Younger kids can draw theirs instead.

You can read them together during Thanksgiving dinner or save the notes and look back at them later.

Okay, I already made this one for you. 😂

I created a Canadian Thanksgiving Emoji Game with 10 Thanksgiving-themed clues for the family to figure out.

It's an easy one to pull out while everyone is waiting for dinner or when you need something to keep the kids entertained.

Kids and adults can play together, and there's an answer key when everyone is ready to check their guesses.

Food is obviously a big part of Thanksgiving, but preparing it can be part of the family fun too.

Our Thanksgiving meals tend to be a mix of traditions. One year, my sister and I put together a potluck-style meal with jollof rice, roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts, asun, turkey, salad, puff-puff, and, of course, pumpkin pie.

It was also the year I made my first Thanksgiving turkey — with a little help from YouTube😂. You don't have to hand the kids responsibility for the turkey, though...

If your kids enjoy crafts, put out whatever supplies you already have and keep this one easy.

They could:

• Draw what they're thankful for
• Make a handprint turkey
• Decorate a paper pumpkin
• Make leaf rubbings
• Create a Thanksgiving card for someone
• Decorate a real mini pumpkin

You don't need to buy an entire Thanksgiving craft kit either. Paper, crayons, markers, and whatever you already have at home are enough.

🎲 7. Play a Thanksgiving Game

This is one we've actually done at our Thanksgiving table. 😂

One year, after all the eating and talking, we pulled out a Thanksgiving emoji game and played together as a family. It was such a simple addition to the day, but everyone had fun trying to figure out the clues.

I ended up creating my own Canadian Thanksgiving Emoji Game afterward, so if you need an easy game for your celebration, you can try ours too.

Nothing elaborate required.

Before everyone gets too comfortable after dinner, grab a quick family photo.

You could take one in the backyard, during your fall walk, at the pumpkin patch, or simply around the Thanksgiving table.

It's one of those things that takes a few minutes now but becomes much more meaningful when you're looking back at it years later.

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❤️ 9. Do Something Kind Together

Thanksgiving can also be an opportunity to think beyond your own celebration.

Depending on your children's ages, your family could write a thank-you note to someone, call a relative, drop off something for a neighbour, or support a local organization.

Even something as simple as asking: “Who made you happy this year that you'd like to say thank you to?” can turn into a nice little family conversation.

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🍿 10. End the Day With a Cozy Family Night

After all the food and activities, you might not want another big plan.

Put on pyjamas, pick a family movie, bring out some Thanksgiving leftovers or snacks, and call it a night.

Sometimes the easiest part of a long weekend ends up being everyone's favourite.

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🍂 You Don't Have to Do Everything

This is probably the most important part.

You don't need ten Thanksgiving activities.

Pick one or two that work for your family and leave the rest.

Maybe your Thanksgiving is a pumpkin patch in the morning followed by dinner.

Maybe it's a neighbourhood walk, the emoji game, and way too much dessert.

Or maybe everyone stays in pyjamas and plays board games all day. 😂

The point isn't to fill every hour of the long weekend. It's simply to spend some time together and create a few memories along the way.

And if you need an easy activity to get started, don't forget to try my Canadian Thanksgiving Emoji Game. 🍁🦃

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Happy Thanksgiving, and until next time… Xoxo 💋