Brandy Metzger
turkey hands
Thanksgiving is such a great holiday to have fun with your family whether you have a large crowd over or are just celebrating with the members of your own household. The main focus of Thanksgiving is usually the large meal but there are several ways to add some fun to the traditional activities. Here are five simple activities to do with kids on Thanksgiving.
- Make turkeys out of the outline of hands or hand prints. This is a classic art project that children really love. Whether they trace their hand or paint it and stamp it onto paper, there are so many ways to decorate these birds. Allow kids to get creative when making their turkeys and you will be amazed at the products. My daughter has done this art project every year since she was 2. Each year we take out her creations from previous years and she makes a new "hand turkey".
- Create a thankfulness chain. Each guest for Thanksgiving is given one or two strips of paper and writes down what they are thankful for.The strips are then linked together to form a chain. Before eating the Thanksgiving meal the children (if they are old enough to read) can share what everyone was thankful for.
- Allow children to make name cards and a center piece for the table. Give your kids some supplies and let them design a centerpiece and name cards to be placed on the table. This gives children a special responsibility when it comes time to set the table for dinner.
- Parade through the house. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is a tradition in many households. However, there are many commercials during the parade. Take advantage of these commercial breaks by having the kids parade around the house. They can play musical instruments, push dolls around in strollers, dress in a special costume or just march around. This is not only fun but also great exercise!
- Get competitive. After the big meal is over, play a new game. Parents.com suggests "Roller Birdy". This is a game in which everyone makes a little turkey out of a plastic egg shell and places a marble underneath the turkey. Then, simply roll the birds on a hard floor to see whose bird is fastest.
For more family fun, check out the T-giving crafts page at parent.com.