Activities For the Day After Thanksgiving:

Slow Moments, Big Memories

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. The turkey’s carved, the dishes are (mostly) done, and the last of the pumpkin pie may be calling your name from the fridge. You’ve earned this quiet morning. But before you rush into Black Friday lines or scroll endless “holiday deal” alerts, consider this: what if the day after Thanksgiving became something softer, slower, and – dare we say it? – more meaningful?

Instead of turning the page too quickly, it can be a beautiful opportunity to pause with your family, connect intentionally, and help your child experience gratitude and presence in action. Think of it as a “slow experience” day, a slow-food-attitude antidote to the hurry that so easily creeps into our holidays.

Finding Your Family’s “Soft Landing”

The day after Thanksgiving often arrives in a haze of full bellies and travel bags. Maybe you’ve just returned from visiting extended family, or perhaps you hosted a lively crowd at home. Either way, the energy of the season can leave everyone, (kids especially!) feeling a bit overstimulated.

That’s why this day matters. It’s a gentle landing pad after all the excitement, a chance to exhale together as a smaller family unit. The goal isn’t to fill the hours with activity, but to savor them: to create simple, shared experiences that remind children (and adults) what gratitude feels like in practice.

There’s no need for elaborate crafts, expensive add-ons or perfectly curated moments. What counts is presence: a few unhurried hours of connection that say, “We’re here, we’re together, and that’s enough.”

Four Simple Ways to Slow Down and Savor the Day

1. Gather Around a Game or Puzzle

Pull out a board game or puzzle and turn the day into friendly, screen-free play. It doesn’t matter if it’s a classic like Candy Land or something more strategic. What your children remember most is the laughter, the teamwork, and the unhurried time together.

You might even make it cozy: everyone in all-day-pajamas, snacks within reach, holiday music humming softly in the background. Let your child choose the game to build ownership and excitement. And if the competition heats up? Model good sportsmanship and lightheartedness, a subtle but lasting lesson in gratitude and grace.

2. A Simple Giving-Back Gesture

Gratitude deepens when it turns outward. But giving back doesn’t have to mean organizing a full-scale volunteer day – especially when kids are young or everyone’s tired. Make it fun, tactile, and age-appropriate.

• “Toy swap” challenge: Invite kids to choose one or two gently loved toys or books to donate. If you can go together to donate somewhere to let your child see generosity in action, even better.

• Cookie drop: Bake (or buy!) a small batch of cookies and deliver them to a neighbor, doorman, or crossing guard who makes your community brighter.

• Gratitude notes: Have your child draw or write a thank-you card for someone who helped make Thanksgiving special this year, whether it be a grandparent, a friend, or even the family pet.

The takeaway? These activities help children experience generosity as something joyful, not dutiful. You’re planting seeds of empathy in small, doable ways that feel good for everyone.

3. A Seasonal Scavenger Hunt

If you’re craving a little movement (Thanksgiving has a way of using up all the oxygen in a room!), head outside for a low-key seasonal scavenger hunt. Bundle up, grab a warm drink to go, and explore your neighborhood, backyard, or local park.

You can create a list in advance, either together with your kids or in secret. A few ideas: 

• A leaf shaped like a heart

• A bird or squirrel at work

• Something that smells like fall

• A sound that reminds you of the holidays

Or, let your child invent the list on the fly. Kids love being “the leader”! Add a reflection at the end: ask what each person noticed or felt grateful for on the walk. It’s an easy way to help children connect mindfulness with nature, and it turns a simple outing into a quiet adventure of noticing.

If the weather keeps you indoors, adapt it! Try a “home gratitude hunt”, finding items around the house that spark happy memories (a photo, a favorite mug, a snuggly blanket) – even better if you can bring them all together for a cozy afternoon. 

4. Remembering Thanksgiving: a Family Tradition in the Making

Before the weekend slips away, take a few minutes to capture what Thanksgiving felt like. Ask each family member (grown-ups included!) to share a favorite moment, meal, or memory from the day. Then choose a way to preserve those memories together:

• Make a mini video: Record quick snippets on your phone – kids love watching them back year to year.

• Create a Thanksgiving journal or scrapbook: One page per year with notes, drawings, or photos. Even a paper folder works!

• Draw it out: Set out crayons or markers and invite kids to draw their favorite Thanksgiving memory. (Bonus: frame one each year for the kitchen or playroom wall.)

• Craft Together: Use leftover materials, like a placemat, napkin ring, or even a leaf from your walk, as a keepsake reminder of this year’s celebration.

Over time, these become your family’s gratitude archive: a living tradition that grows alongside your children. One day, they’ll look back and see a collection not of perfection, but of togetherness, and will a tradition that is uniquely yours. 

The Bigger Picture

The day after Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be another day of errands, crowds, and frazzle. It can be a day of re-centering, a small but powerful reset before the holiday season gathers steam.

By slowing down, you’re teaching your children that gratitude isn’t just a once-a-year feeling; it’s a rhythm of noticing, appreciating, and giving back. And that lesson will serve them far longer than any doorbuster deal ever could. Plus, doesn’t it cut you some slack, too? You’re allowed to take a step back and just be!

So pour that extra cup of coffee. Skip the line. Play, walk, give, remember – and let the day after Thanksgiving become one of your family’s favorite traditions of all.

Need a hand?

Are you looking for more ways to create meaningful family time (and balance) during the holidays? Our experienced and dedicated nannies and babysitters are here to help. Whether you need a temporary holiday fill-in or a long-term caregiver, our personalized process will find just the right person for your family.

Reach out to Smart Sitting today to learn how we can make your family’s season a little smoother – and a lot more joyful.