Thanksgiving is a beautiful time to bring family together, celebrate gratitude, and, if you have a little one, find ways to include them in the festivities. If you’re like me, you're always looking for ways to make your toddler feel included. Montessori activities are a wonderful way to help our little ones feel empowered so I’ve put together a list oF Montessori-inspired activities you can try during the upcoming holidays.

Here are ten Thanksgiving activities that not only keep toddlers entertained but also help develop skills like fine motor control, sensory awareness, and independence.

1. Nature-Inspired Gratitude Garland

Supplies: Twine, paper leaves, hole punch, crayons, and markers
Take a nature walk to collect leaves, sticks, and any other little treasures your toddler finds. Afterward, create a gratitude garland together by attaching leaves to a piece of twine. Encourage your toddler to think of things they’re thankful for as they decorate each leaf. This fosters both fine motor skills and a sense of appreciation.

2. Pumpkin Seed Counting and Sorting

Supplies: Pumpkin seeds, small bowls or containers
Let your toddler help scoop seeds from a pumpkin, wash, and dry them. Then, offer bowls and invite them to sort the seeds by size or count small groups of seeds into containers. Sorting and counting exercises build math readiness and focus, which is essential for cognitive development.

3. Thanksgiving Sensory Bin

Supplies: Dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, acorns, leaves, and other seasonal items
A sensory bin is perfect for letting toddlers explore textures and colors of autumn. Include various items like corn kernels, mini pumpkins, and acorns. Encourage them to feel, scoop, and pour, engaging their senses and practicing hand-eye coordination.

4. Mini Turkey Handprints

Supplies: Non-toxic paint, paper, and a paintbrush
Help your toddler create turkey handprints with paint on a large piece of paper. You can guide them to add eyes, a beak, and feathers. It’s a simple art project that promotes creativity, fine motor skills, and is a cute keepsake to remember their tiny hands during the holiday.

5. Autumn Fruit and Vegetable Washing Station

Supplies: Small basin of water, soft scrub brushes, and various fruits and vegetables
Toddlers love water play, so set up a mini washing station with seasonal items like small pumpkins, gourds, apples, and pears. Demonstrate how to scrub gently, and let them wash each one. This is a great way to practice practical life skills while building their sensory awareness.

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6. Thanksgiving-Themed Matching Game

Supplies: Printed Thanksgiving images, such as pumpkins, turkeys, and leaves, on cardstock
Cut out two of each Thanksgiving-themed picture, like a turkey, pumpkin, or acorn, and set them up for a matching game. Not only will your toddler love the visuals, but they’ll also work on memory, focus, and cognitive skills as they find the pairs.

7. DIY Leaf Pressing and Art

Supplies: Leaves, heavy books, paper, and glue
After a walk outside, gather a variety of leaves. Show your toddler how to press the leaves by placing them between heavy books. Once pressed, they can glue them onto paper to create a collage. This activity strengthens fine motor skills and teaches them about nature.

8. Pumpkin Hammering for Fine Motor Fun

Supplies: Small pumpkin, toy hammer, and golf tees or large beads
Give your toddler a toy hammer and let them push tees or beads into a small pumpkin. Not only is this safe with supervision, but it’s also an excellent way to develop hand strength and coordination. The activity is satisfying for toddlers and gives them a chance to practice their skills in a fun way.

9. Thanksgiving Story Time with Props

Supplies: Thanksgiving books, toy props like a small turkey or pumpkin
Choose a Thanksgiving-themed book or story, and let your toddler play along with small toys or stuffed animals related to the story. This activity promotes language development, comprehension, and builds a love for reading by making the story interactive.

10. Fall-Themed Color Sorting

Supplies: Leaves in various colors, small baskets or bowls
Gather leaves in different shades of red, yellow, and brown, and ask your toddler to sort them by color. This introduces them to color discrimination, an essential pre-math skill, while embracing nature’s beauty in a hands-on way.

These Thanksgiving activities are not only fun but offer so many developmental benefits. They encourage independence, build confidence, and embrace the Montessori spirit of learning through exploration. This Thanksgiving, share these experiences with your toddler, and watch as they dive into each activity with joy, learning, and gratitude.

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