First–before the fun things–I have to say this for Miss Allyson R. Did you know tomorrow (November 18th) is National Mickey Mouse Day? Allyson is our expert on all things Disney, and I know she’ll be happy to know Mickey has his own day!
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Looking for something for the kids to do while they’re waiting for the turkey to cook? Or something to do after the feast? Here are some cute ideas!
1. Create a “What I am Thankful For” tree. Plant tree branches in a pot and trim with clear lights. Decorate with a “garland of gratitude”: Cut leaves out of colorful construction or scrapbook paper. Have the children write one thing they are thankful for on each leaf, then staple together. (Or, each family can work together to make its own garland – a great way to think back over the year about your blessings.) After the garlands are made, the children or families present their blessings to each other.
2. Hold a “Turkey Trot.” This could be a “fun run” or “fun walk” that involves kids and adults or a kid-only activity that lets them burn off holiday energy before or after the big dinner. If kid only, you might ask them to find certain items in nature or hunt for Thanksgiving-related pieces that adults have hidden. Give away fun prizes or a special t-shirt that you’ve printed for the occasion.
3. Build a turkey. Give each child leaves, sticks, acorns, feathers and other supplies from nature. Provide glue guns (the young children should work with an adult on this one) and ask them to use their imaginations to create a turkey with the items they’ve been given.
4. Decorate a tablecloth. Cut natural burlap to size for the kids’ table. Give the children Thanksgiving shapes cut from colorful felt, feathers, other adornments and glue. Ask them to create a border for the table covering. Other ideas: kids trace their hands on the table cloth (butcher’s paper or craft paper) and decorate the fingers and thumb as the turkey’s head and tail feathers. For a little razzle dazzle, provide fake feathers they can glue on.
5. Do the Turkey Pokey. Sing the Hokey Pokey as you normally do, but change the last line to: “You do the Turkey Pokey and you gobble all around, that’s what it’s all about!”
6. Pin the feather on the turkey. (Played like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.) Mount a huge turkey shape on the wall. Give the children feathers. Put a strip of double stick tape to the back of each feather. Blindfold one child, spin her around and instruct her to tape the feather on the turkey. Every child gets a turn.
From www.kaboose.com
