19 Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids While Getting Ready for the Holiday

Thanksgiving trivia questions for kids on the morning of Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity for moms and kids to spend quality time together while creating festive hairstyles. As you help your child with their hair, it’s a chance to bond and talk about the day ahead—from Thanksgiving activities to the delicious food they’re excited to eat, like sweet potatoes and apple pie. Taking this time allows you to slow down and enjoy a “getting ready” moment together before the busy holiday season officially kicks off. (pro tip: this might be one of those times where you could also throw on the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving episode or America’s Thanksgiving parade).

Creating a Thanksgiving-themed hairstyle, whether it’s adding some holiday ribbons or trying a new braid, makes the holiday even more memorable. It’s a tradition that kids can look forward to, much like setting up the Thanksgiving table or planning for leftover turkey sandwiches. These moments become a small but special tradition in your family’s Thanksgiving holiday, bringing you closer as you both get ready to celebrate the annual event together.

This post includes affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep providing high-quality content on this site for free. Rest assured, I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will be helpful for my readers.

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids: Fun Conversations While Getting Ready

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday; it’s a chance to gather with family, reflect on gratitude, and celebrate traditions. For parents, it’s also a golden opportunity to create new memories and connections. Why not make the most of the morning routine—like getting ready and doing hair—by turning it into a fun Thanksgiving trivia session? Below, you’ll find a treasure trove of Thanksgiving trivia questions for kids, facts about the holiday, and ideas on making the morning routine enjoyable.

Here’s a fun list of Thanksgiving-themed conversation ideas moms can share with their kids during morning hair routines. These can make the holiday more engaging and help kids learn something new while getting ready for the big day!

1. Origins of Thanksgiving Traditions

Share the story of the very first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621, where the Pilgrims from the Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag Native American tribe came together to celebrate their successful harvest. This event was the foundation of Thanksgiving as an annual tradition in the United States, and it’s a great way to teach kids about gratitude and unity. You can also talk about how Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 during the Civil War, setting it on the fourth Thursday of November.

Fun Detail: Tell your kids that the original Thanksgiving didn’t include modern favorites like cranberry sauce or green bean casserole—it had foods like corn, deer, and fish! This could be an interesting comparison to the dishes they’ll enjoy later at the dinner table.

2. Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and Football Traditions

While fixing hair, get kids excited for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! The parade started in New York City in 1924, and it’s become an iconic part of Thanksgiving for families across the United States. Kids will enjoy learning that it’s known for its giant balloons, floats, and marching bands.

This is also a good chance to introduce the tradition of Thanksgiving football, which began in the 1920s and is still celebrated with games from the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions every year. Many families now look forward to watching the game together after their Thanksgiving meal—a perfect mix of holiday excitement!

3. Fun Facts About Thanksgiving Foods

Thanksgiving is full of interesting food traditions that have evolved over time. You can share how certain foods, like sweet potatoes and green bean casserole, weren’t part of the original feast. In fact, Native Americans introduced cranberries to the settlers, who later turned them into the cranberry sauce we see on our tables today.

Kid-Friendly Fact: For a fun twist, mention that the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin pie weighed over 3,000 pounds! These kinds of fun facts help make the holiday meal even more exciting for kids, giving them things to look forward to as they sit down for dinner.

These conversation ideas add a little extra joy and learning to Thanksgiving morning and can help make the hair-fixing routine more engaging for both you and your kids.

Why Thanksgiving Trivia is Great for Kids

Engaging kids with Thanksgiving trivia for kids questions about Thanksgiving is a simple way to introduce them to the holiday’s traditions, history, and fun facts. Trivia doesn’t just entertain; it also:

• Educates: Kids learn about significant moments in American history.
• Encourages Bonding: Family members enjoy meaningful conversations during daily routines.
• Inspires Curiosity: Kids love hearing stories about traditions, famous people, and funny facts.

Incorporating Thanksgiving trivia for kids questions while styling hair keeps kids engaged and helps them learn without even realizing it. Mornings can become a family tradition, where every hair twist or braid brings a new question and answer to life.

Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids

This section provides 20 Thanksgiving-themed trivia questions to ask your kids while fixing their hair, getting ready, or sharing a meal. These questions combine historical facts, fun traditions, and interesting Thanksgiving moments.

19 Thanksgiving Trivia Questions for Kids and Answers

1. What year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
   • Answer: 1621
2. Which Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
   • Answer: Wampanoag tribe
3. What animal did the Pilgrims eat at the first Thanksgiving?
   • Answer: Deer
4. Which President made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
   • Answer: Abraham Lincoln
5. Which city hosts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year?
   • Answer: New York City
6. How many days did the first Thanksgiving feast last?
   • Answer: Three days
7. What popular side dish, made from a berry, is a Thanksgiving favorite?
   • Answer: Cranberry sauce
8. Which NFL teams play every Thanksgiving?
   • Answer: Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions
9. What is the red, wobbly piece of skin on top of a turkey’s beak called?
   • Answer: Snood
10. What was the first department store to host a Thanksgiving parade?
    • Answer: Gimbels
11. Which state is known for starting the oldest Thanksgiving parade?
    • Answer: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
12. What was the first Thanksgiving dish made with sweet potatoes?
    • Answer: Sweet potato casserole
13. Who is known as the “Mother of Thanksgiving”?
    • Answer: Sarah Josepha Hale
14. What is the day after Thanksgiving commonly called?
    • Answer: Black Friday
15. Which Native American taught the Pilgrims how to grow crops?
    • Answer: Squanto
16. What state produces the most turkeys in the U.S.?
    • Answer: Minnesota
17. What year did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begin?
    • Answer: 1924
18. What is it called when the President pardons a turkey each year?
    • Answer: Turkey Pardon
19. How much does the average Thanksgiving turkey weigh?
    • Answer: Around 15 pounds

These questions are ideal for keeping kids entertained and learning while preparing for the day, whether by creating a Thanksgiving-inspired hairstyle or starting a new tradition.

Thanksgiving Hairstyles to Try with Fun Trivia Sessions

Thanksgiving hairstyles can be a great time for parents and kids to share trivia while styling hair in festive ways. Here are a few simple hairstyle ideas that also serve as fun, creative moments for Thanksgiving morning:

• Braided Turkey Tails: Create a few braids and pull them together into a ponytail to look like a “turkey tail.” Share trivia about turkeys, like how only male turkeys gobble!
• Twisted Cornucopia: Use two-strand twists to mimic the shape of a cornucopia. Share fun facts about the food served at the first Thanksgiving.
• Banded Feathered Style: Add a few colorful bands for a fun twist that resembles Thanksgiving feathers. While styling, discuss Native American contributions and their role in the first Thanksgiving.

These styles allow you to break up the morning with trivia questions, adding extra excitement and learning to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Why Thanksgiving Trivia for Kids Games Make Family Time Special

Thanksgiving trivia doesn’t have to be limited to mornings. Playing trivia games after dinner or during holiday travel is another way to share laughs and stories. With a set of printed or homemade Thanksgiving trivia cards, families can start a trivia tradition that grows each year.

Here are a few simple tips for creating trivia games:

• Divide Into Teams: Encourage sibling bonding or pit kids against adults.
• Use Themed Prizes: Have small prizes on hand, like Thanksgiving stickers or holiday treats.
• Play for Knowledge: Encourage kids to share their own facts, based on what they learn in school or fun Thanksgiving books.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving Trivia for Kids

Q1: Why do people eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
The tradition began with wild game, which included turkey. Over time, turkey became the main dish because it’s native to North America.

Q2: Who decided Thanksgiving would be on the fourth Thursday of November?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the date in 1941 to extend the holiday shopping season.

Q3: What’s the origin of the Turkey Pardon?
President Abraham Lincoln’s son asked his father to spare a turkey meant for Christmas dinner. George H.W. Bush formalized the Turkey Pardon in 1989.

Q4: Why is Thanksgiving sometimes called a “Day of Mourning”?
For some Native Americans, Thanksgiving represents a day of mourning due to the impact of European settlers on indigenous populations.

Q5: Why do people watch football on Thanksgiving?
Football games became a Thanksgiving tradition in the 1920s. Today, the NFL continues the tradition with Thanksgiving Day games.

Fun Thanksgiving Facts to Share with Kids

Here are a few interesting Thanksgiving facts to add to your morning trivia sessions:

• Largest Pumpkin Pie: The world’s largest pumpkin pie weighed 3,699 pounds.
• First Thanksgiving Football Game: The first Thanksgiving football game was in 1876 between Yale and Princeton.
• Macy’s Parade Balloons: Macy’s started using balloons in their parade in 1927.
• Oldest Thanksgiving Parade: The oldest Thanksgiving parade started in 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• First Thanksgiving Pies: Pies at the first Thanksgiving weren’t like the ones we have today; they were much simpler and often didn’t have a crust.

These facts make trivia sessions more engaging and give kids a better understanding of Thanksgiving traditions.

Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity for families to come together, share stories, and create lasting memories. Engaging in Thanksgiving trivia for kids while fixing your child’s hair adds a layer of fun to the morning routine. It transforms what could be a hectic start into a joyful celebration of tradition.

As you explore interesting facts about the Thanksgiving holiday, you invite curiosity and learning into the conversation. Kids may ask about the origins of the holiday, the significance of the first Thanksgiving feast, or why cranberry sauce is a staple on the dinner table. This dialogue encourages them to think critically and appreciate the rich history behind this beloved holiday.

Here are some fun educational resources to reference for more topics to involve he kids for the day!

• History of Thanksgiving (from History.com) — Thanksgiving 2024 ‑ Tradition, Origins & Meaning | HISTORY
• Thanksgiving Recipes and Cooking Tips (from Food Network) — Thanksgiving Recipes, Menus, Entertaining & More : Food Network | Food Network

BONUS: Add Lollipop Friday Hair Glitter to any hairstyle