🦃 Talk, Play & Give Thanks!
Simple Thanksgiving Activities That Build Speech, Language & Thinking Skills
No supplies. No preparation. Just connection!
The holiday season is full of opportunities to help your child learn and grow—and you don't need special toys, worksheets, or elaborate activities to make it happen!
At Miss Angie's Say & Play, I believe some of the most meaningful learning happens during everyday interactions. A silly sound, a shared laugh, a conversation while grocery shopping, or helping prepare for Thanksgiving dinner can support your child's speech, language, social communication, and cognitive development.
Throughout November, we're sharing four simple Thanksgiving-inspired activities that fit naturally into your family's busy schedule.
The best part? You're probably already doing many of these things!
Our goal isn't to give you more to do. It's to help you recognize the learning opportunities already happening around you.
Remember: It's not about the activity. It's about the connection.
🦃 Week 1: Gobble, Gobble! Let's Talk Turkey!
Who knew being a silly turkey could help build communication?
Sometimes the simplest activities offer wonderful opportunities for learning. This week, we're encouraging families to get a little silly together!
Try This!
Pretend to be a turkey with your child!
Make a silly “gobble, gobble” sound.
Flap your arms like turkey wings.
Waddle around the room.
Stop, pause, and see what your child does.
Take turns copying each other's sounds and movements.
That's it! No special materials, no setup, and no cleanup.
Why Does This Help?
Imitation: Copying sounds, gestures, and movements helps children develop foundational communication and learning skills.
Turn-taking: Going back and forth with sounds or movements introduces the rhythm of conversation.
Shared Attention: Enjoying the same activity together creates opportunities for communication and social connection.
Speech & Language: Playful sounds and familiar words provide opportunities for children to experiment with communication.
Cognitive Development: Remembering movements, anticipating what happens next, and responding to changes encourage attention, memory, and flexible thinking.
Want to Take It a Little Further?
For Emerging Communicators
Make a silly sound or movement, then pause. Watch for a smile, eye gaze, gesture, movement, vocalization, or AAC response. Respond as though you're having a conversation!
For Early Talkers
Model simple words and phrases such as:
“Gobble, gobble!”
“Go!”
“Stop!”
“More!”
“Again!”
“Silly turkey!”
Don't worry if your child doesn't repeat the words. Hearing language during meaningful interactions is valuable, too.
For Preschoolers
Let your child take the lead! Practice following silly directions, using action words, and exploring concepts such as fast/slow, loud/quiet, and first/next.
For Older Children
Make up a funny story about a turkey trying to escape Thanksgiving dinner!
Where will the turkey hide? What happens next? How will the story end?
This encourages storytelling, sequencing, predicting, problem-solving, and imagination.
Miss Angie's Parent Tip ❤️
Don't turn play into a quiz!
Instead of repeatedly asking your child to say something or copy you, model the sound or movement, pause, and give them an opportunity to respond.
Follow their lead, celebrate their attempts to communicate, and enjoy the interaction.
Your child doesn't have to speak to participate. Gestures, facial expressions, movements, signs, and AAC are all meaningful ways to communicate.
Connection comes first!
🛒 Activity #2: Thanksgiving Grocery Shopping — In-Store or Online!
Your Thanksgiving grocery list can build more than a holiday meal!
Whether you're walking through the grocery store, ordering online, or picking up groceries, Thanksgiving shopping offers wonderful opportunities to build speech, language, and thinking skills.
The best part? You're already shopping! Just invite your child to participate.
Try This!
Shopping in the Store
Name it: Talk about foods as you place them in your cart. “Look at that BIG pumpkin!”
Find it: “Can you find something orange?”
Compare it: “Which apple is bigger?”
Count it: “We need three potatoes. Let's count!”
Make choices: “Should we get green beans or carrots?”
Shopping Online
Look together: Invite your child to help select Thanksgiving groceries using pictures on your phone or computer.
Make choices: “Red apples or green apples?”
Find ingredients: “We need butter to make mashed potatoes. Can you find it?”
Plan ahead: “What else do we need for pumpkin pie?”
Solve problems: “They're out of sweet potatoes! What could we use instead?”
After Shopping
Putting groceries away is another opportunity to connect!
Try sorting foods into refrigerator, freezer, and pantry groups. Talk about what's heavy, light, cold, or soft. Let your child help decide where things belong.
Why Does This Help?
Vocabulary: Naming foods, colors, sizes, and textures introduces and reinforces meaningful words.
Following Directions: Finding items and helping put groceries away encourages listening and comprehension.
Categorization: Sorting fruits, vegetables, refrigerated foods, and pantry items builds organizational and language skills.
Cognitive Development: Making lists, remembering ingredients, comparing choices, and solving problems support attention, memory, planning, and reasoning.
Social Communication: Sharing decisions and taking turns during shopping encourages meaningful back-and-forth interactions.
Want to Take It a Little Further?
For Emerging Communicators
Offer two choices and wait. Your child might look, point, reach, gesture, vocalize, sign, or use AAC to communicate a preference. Respond to their choice!
For Early Talkers
Model simple words and phrases during shopping:
“Big pumpkin!”
“More apples!”
“Cold milk!”
“Put in!”
“All done!”
Expand naturally on what your child says. If they say “apple,” you might respond, “Yes! Red apple!”
For Preschoolers
Encourage describing, comparing, and following two-step directions.
“Find the carrots and put them in the cart.”
“Which pumpkin is bigger?”
“What do we need to make mashed potatoes?”
For Older Children
Invite your child to help plan the Thanksgiving menu, create a grocery list, estimate quantities, or find substitutions for missing ingredients.
Ask questions that encourage reasoning:
“What might happen if we forget an ingredient?”
“How can we make sure we have enough food for everyone?”
Miss Angie's Parent Tip ❤️
Talk with your child, not just to your child!
You don't need to ask questions throughout the entire shopping trip. Comment on what you're doing, share your thoughts, offer choices, and give your child time to respond.
And if you're shopping online, you don't need to involve your child in the entire order. Even choosing one or two Thanksgiving foods together creates an opportunity for communication.
Remember: It's not about how you shop. It's about the connection you create along the way!
🍽️ Activity #3: Set the Thanksgiving Table, Build the Brain!
Who knew setting the table could build speech, language, and thinking skills?
Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect opportunity to involve your child in a meaningful family routine. Setting the table encourages communication, independence, problem-solving, and early cognitive skills—all while helping prepare for the holiday!
The best part? The table needs to be set anyway! Let your child help in whatever way they can.
Try This!
Count It!
As you set the table, count the plates, napkins, or utensils together.
“We need five plates. Let's count!”
“One napkin for each person.”
“Do we have enough forks?”
Match It!
Encourage your child to match items or identify what belongs together.
“Put a fork next to each plate.”
“Can you find the matching napkins?”
“Everyone needs a cup!”
Follow Directions!
Give simple directions appropriate for your child's developmental level.
“Put the napkin on the plate.”
“First put down the plate, then add the fork.”
“Put the spoon beside Grandma's plate.”
Solve Problems!
Create natural opportunities for thinking and reasoning.
“We have six people coming, but only five chairs. What should we do?”
“Oops! Someone is missing a napkin!”
“Where should we put the extra plate?”
Talk About Family!
Setting the table is also a wonderful opportunity to talk about the people joining your Thanksgiving celebration.
“Who's coming to dinner?”
“Where should Grandpa sit?”
“Who likes mashed potatoes?”
“What do you think Grandma will bring?”
Why Does This Help?
Vocabulary & Concepts: Words such as beside, under, next to, between, more, and less build understanding of spatial and quantity concepts.
Following Directions: Listening to and carrying out one- or multi-step directions strengthens receptive language and working memory.
Early Math & Cognitive Skills: Counting, matching, and recognizing one-to-one correspondence support early mathematical reasoning.
Sequencing & Planning: Deciding what comes first, next, and last helps children organize information and complete familiar routines.
Problem-Solving: Noticing missing items, determining quantities, and finding solutions encourages flexible thinking and reasoning.
Social Communication: Talking about family members, preferences, and Thanksgiving traditions creates opportunities for meaningful conversation.
Want to Take It a Little Further?
For Emerging Communicators
Invite your child to participate in one simple step, such as handing you a napkin or placing a cup on the table.
Model words like “cup,” “plate,” “in,” and “on.” Pause and respond to their gestures, eye gaze, vocalizations, signs, or AAC.
Celebrate their participation without requiring them to say anything!
For Early Talkers
Use short, meaningful phrases while setting the table:
“More plates!”
“Cup on!”
“Big spoon!”
“One more!”
“All done!”
Expand naturally on what your child communicates. If they say “fork,” you might respond, “Yes! Fork by the plate!”
For Preschoolers
Encourage counting, comparing, and following two-step directions.
“Put a napkin on each plate.”
“First get three cups, then put them on the table.”
“How many more forks do we need?”
“What's missing from this place setting?”
Let your child notice and correct mistakes independently when possible.
For Older Children
Give your child a little more responsibility for planning the Thanksgiving table.
Figure out how many place settings are needed.
Decide where guests will sit.
Determine whether there are enough chairs and utensils.
Explain the steps involved in setting the table.
Solve problems when something is missing or plans change.
These activities encourage organization, reasoning, planning, and flexible thinking.
Miss Angie's Parent Tip ❤️
Helping is learning—even when it isn't perfect!
Your child doesn't need to set the table correctly or complete every step independently to benefit from participating.
Instead of correcting every mistake, try modeling, offering a helpful comment, or allowing time for your child to notice something on their own.
And remember, participation can be as simple as handing you one napkin, choosing where someone sits, or watching and sharing the experience.
Use child-safe, nonbreakable items when appropriate, and choose tasks that match your child's abilities.
Remember: It's not about setting the perfect Thanksgiving table. It's about the connections you make while preparing it together!
🦃 Activity #4: More Than Just Saying Thank You!
Thanksgiving is about more than sharing a meal. It's about connecting with the people around us!
Family gatherings offer wonderful opportunities for children to practice communication, share experiences, express preferences, and build relationships.
But communication doesn't have to mean speaking in complete sentences, greeting every relative, or answering questions at the dinner table.
The best part? Meaningful communication can happen in the smallest moments—and every child can participate in their own way!
Try This!
Share the Conversation!
Thanksgiving dinner naturally creates opportunities for back-and-forth communication.
“What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?”
“Remember when we made pumpkin pie?”
“I love these mashed potatoes!”
“What was your favorite part of today?”
For younger children, simply commenting on the food or responding to their expressions can create meaningful exchanges.
Offer Choices!
Allow your child to communicate preferences throughout the celebration.
“Turkey or potatoes?”
“Would you like more?”
“Do you want to sit here or there?”
“Ready to eat, or do you need a break?”
Children can respond using words, gestures, pointing, signs, or AAC.
Share Family Stories!
Thanksgiving traditions offer opportunities to build memory, sequencing, and storytelling skills.
“Remember what we did last Thanksgiving?”
“Who helped make dinner?”
“What happened after we ate?”
“What should we do next year?”
Younger children can participate by looking at photographs, pointing to familiar people, or sharing simple memories.
Practice Greetings Without Pressure!
Family gatherings often involve relatives children don't see regularly.
Instead of requiring a hug, kiss, or verbal greeting, offer comfortable alternatives.
Wave hello or goodbye.
Give a high-five if your child wants to.
Smile or use a gesture.
Say hello using AAC.
Stay close to a familiar adult while getting comfortable.
Express Gratitude in Different Ways!
Thanksgiving provides opportunities to talk about appreciation, kindness, and the people who matter to us.
“I loved playing with you today!”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“I'm happy Grandma came!”
“That was so nice of you!”
Children can express appreciation through words, gestures, pictures, signs, AAC, or thoughtful actions.
Why Does This Help?
Social Communication: Sharing conversations, making choices, and responding to others support turn-taking, social interaction, and relationship-building.
Expressive Language: Talking about experiences, preferences, and feelings provides opportunities to communicate thoughts and ideas.
Receptive Language: Listening to family conversations, understanding questions, and following familiar routines support comprehension.
Memory & Sequencing: Recalling past celebrations and discussing what happened first, next, and last encourage organization and narrative development.
Social-Emotional Development: Recognizing feelings, expressing preferences, and respecting personal boundaries support emotional understanding and self-advocacy.
Cognitive Development: Predicting events, remembering traditions, and considering other people's perspectives encourage reasoning and flexible thinking.
Want to Take It a Little Further?
For Emerging Communicators
Focus on shared enjoyment and meaningful participation.
Respond to smiles, gestures, eye gaze, and vocalizations.
Offer simple choices between two foods or activities.
Model words such as “more,” “eat,” “hi,” and “bye.”
Encourage communication through signs, pictures, or AAC when appropriate.
Follow your child's lead and acknowledge their communication attempts.
For Early Talkers
Model short, functional phrases during familiar interactions:
“More turkey!”
“I want pie!”
“Hi, Grandma!”
“All done!”
“My turn!”
“Thank you!”
Expand naturally on what your child says. If they say “pie,” you might respond, “You want more pie!”
For Preschoolers
Encourage simple conversations, descriptions, and storytelling.
“What was your favorite part of Thanksgiving?”
“Who did you play with?”
“What did we eat first?”
“How do you think Grandpa felt when we surprised him?”
Help your child build on their ideas without expecting perfect sentences or answers.
For Older Children
Encourage more complex conversations, perspective-taking, and reflection.
Compare Thanksgiving traditions from different years.
Explain how a favorite Thanksgiving dish is prepared.
Share a funny or meaningful family memory.
Discuss ways to help someone feel welcome.
Talk about something they're grateful for and explain why.
These conversations encourage reasoning, storytelling, organization, and social understanding.
Miss Angie's Parent Tip ❤️
Connection is more important than performance!
Holiday gatherings can be exciting, but they can also be overwhelming for children. New faces, unfamiliar foods, noise, and changes in routines may affect how comfortably a child communicates.
Avoid putting children on the spot by asking them to perform, repeat words for relatives, or demonstrate what they've learned in therapy.
Instead, model language, offer choices, respect their boundaries, and allow them to participate at their own pace.
And remember, a child who communicates through gestures, signs, AAC, or facial expressions is still communicating!
This Thanksgiving, focus less on what your child says and more on the meaningful connections you're creating together.
❤️ Little Moments. Big Connections.
Helping Your Child Grow Through Everyday Experiences
Supporting your child's speech, language, and cognitive development doesn't require special materials, elaborate activities, or extra time in your already busy schedule.
Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens through a silly sound, a shared laugh, a simple conversation, or a moment of connection.
You already have so many opportunities to help your child learn and grow. Enjoy them together!
Have Questions About Your Child's Communication Development?
Every child develops at their own pace. If you have questions or concerns about your child's speech or language development, I'm here to help!
At Miss Angie's Say & Play Speech & Language Therapy, I provide individualized speech and language evaluations and therapy for children and their families.