Get your markers ready! Download our free Thanksgiving Pictionary game for kids—fun, fast, and full of holiday excitement. Perfect for nonstop family fun!
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, share delicious food, and create lasting memories. The Thanksgiving Pictionary Game is the perfect way to keep little hands busy while the turkey is in the oven and create hilarious holiday memories that everyone will be thankful for.
Playing Thanksgiving Pictionary brings laughter to your gathering and helps children develop communication skills, teamwork, and collaboration. You can modify the rules to include younger kids so the entire family can join the fun!
Setting up the game is simple, requiring minimal materials and preparation time. With just some paper, markers, and the free printable Thanksgiving Pictionary Game cards, you can create a thrilling experience that will have the children giggling and entertained throughout the festivities.
If you are into acting, you can turn this game into Thanksgiving Charades! Some words, like sweet potato, may be a little hard to act out, so sort through the cards and pick out the ones appropriate for a game of charades.
Grab your markers, pick up your cards, and let the doodling begin—because nothing says family fun like a round of Thanksgiving-themed Pictionary!
How to Play Thanksgiving Pictionary Game
Materials:
- Free printable Thanksgiving Pictionary Game cards (see below for download instructions)
- A large pad of paper or whiteboard for drawing
- Markers
- Timer (you can also use an app on your phone)
- Optional: a bowl or container to hold your word cards
Setting Up for the Game
Download and print the Thanksgiving Pictionary Game cards. If you want to preserve them longer or play the game multiple times, use a thicker paper like cardstock or laminate the cards. The pack also includes blank cards that can be customized if there are any unique Thanksgiving traditions specific to your family.
Place all the cards in a pile, bowl, or other container. Ensure enough space for kids to draw and for others to view the drawings. Arrange seating so everyone can see the board clearly.
Thanksgiving Pictionary Game Rules
Begin by gathering all players and dividing them into two groups with an equal number of people if possible. If there is an odd number of players, select one person to be the picturist for both teams. For that round only, the picturist draws a card and sketches for both teams to guess. The point goes to the team who guesses first.
One player from the team that is going first pulls a card from the stack. He or she has one minute to draw a picture or several picture clues and get his or her teammates to guess the word on the card(s) before the time is up. The person drawing cannot talk or give any clues other than drawing pictures, and no letters or numbers are allowed in drawings.
If someone from the team guesses correctly, that team scores one point. If the team doesn’t guess the word in time, the card is discarded, and no points are scored.
Some people prefer to play so that you cannot pass on a card if it’s too difficult to draw. I will leave that up to you!
Continue until everyone gets a turn, or decide how many rounds you’d like to play beforehand. The team with the highest number of points wins!
Consider small, themed prizes for the winning team. Options could include Thanksgiving stickers, craft supplies, or fun temporary tattoos. Ensure all participants feel included by recognizing their efforts and creativity, promoting a positive experience regardless of the final score.
Gameplay Variations for Different Ages
Tailor the game’s complexity based on the children’s ages. For younger players, use simpler words and provide visual aids or examples. You may want to look through the cards and put aside the cards that are too difficult.
You can add rules for older kids to make the game more challenging. You could have them draw using different styles, like abstract or cartoonish. Adjusting the difficulty keeps everyone engaged and allows for fun challenges without frustration.
How to Download the Thanksgiving Pictionary Game
Click on the image below to grab your free Thanksgiving Pictionary Game PDF!
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