Happy Thanksgiving! Dive into these Simple Thanksgiving Conversation Starters to fill the day with gratitude!
I used to dread the holidays because I never knew how my kids would behave during big get-togethers. Would they eat? What would they do?
We’re now finding a little bit of a groove when we head to family functions. I simply try to come prepared with something for them to do. Even a few toy cars for them to push around can be a huge help!
A huge hit we had last year on Thanksgiving was tape. Yep. Just tape.
I brought three rolls of painter’s tape in different colors (here’s green, yellow and purple, affiliate links). I just handed the tape over to the kids and let them do as they pleased. They covered the tile floor with it! The cousins had a blast playing together and the adults got a chance to catch up. It was pure bliss.
So it kind of made me wonder… What else can we do on Thanksgiving day? What can we do during those family get-togethers that keeps the kids happy and playing?
Thanksgiving Themed Activities for Thanksgiving Day:
Challenge your child to move a feather across the floor or table by squeezing a turkey baster!
Set up this invitation to create play dough turkeys from Fantastic Fun and Learning. The kids can make all kinds of turkey friends while they’re waiting for dinner. Make the play dough ahead of time. Pack everything up in a few bins with tops. You’ve got a portable play dough station to bring to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving!
Make Mom Inspired Life’s racing turkeys game for the kids to play while you’re visiting relatives. They can make their own turkey game pieces before heading out of the house. Don’t forget to bring dice with you!
Encourage the kids to make place cards for Thanksgiving dinner while they wait. Inner Child Fun uses post-its as the basis for their name card turkeys, along with some basic craft supplies. The table is sure to look festive, and the kids will be happily engaged.
Let the kids practice their mark-making with Still Playing School’s Thanksgiving-themed sensory writing tray. You can put the main ingredient in a covered pan to bring along to dinner, or ask if your hosts already have it on-hand. While the adults are chatting, the kids can be drawing, writing, and exploring in the tray.
Little ones who love buttoning (and unbuttoning) will be happy to bring along a button turkey activity from Natural Beach Living.
Bring construction paper, glue sticks, and googly eyes while visiting relatives on Thanksgiving. Cutting Tiny Bites’ invitation to create turkeys can keep the kids happily creating as dinner is prepared.
Get their little fingers moving with feather weaving on Thanksgiving. Fun-A-Day shares how to put together a simple feather weaving activity using homemade looms and craft feathers. Make the looms ahead of time and put everything in a bag to take along as you travel for the holiday.
Activities for kids to do during any family get-together:
Tape down the large piece of paper, draw a wacky design with the marker, and then provide the stickers to trace the design.
While the kids wait for their dinner, set them to making a meal for the birds. This classic bird feeder craft is sure to keep the kids busy, and you just need two materials. Maybe after dinner, the kids can hang up the feeders and watch for hungry birds.
Make a super simple quiet bin to bring along Thanksgiving Day. How Wee Learn’s popsicle stick and clothespin activity would be just the thing. Just two items, and the kids can build and create to their hearts’ content.
If your kids love anything with stickers, Busy Toddler’s sticker line up will definitely be a hit. This activity can be done on a small scale or a large scale, so it can be done almost anywhere. Even better, it really only needs two materials that are easily tossed in the back of the car before heading to Grandma’s house.
Turn a muffin tin into a geoboard for the kids, like And Next Comes L suggests. Chances are there are already a few muffin tins where you’re going, so you’ll just need to grab some rubber bands.
Use markers and large craft sticks to create homemade color dominoes like Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls. The dominoes can get packed in a bag or box while traveling. As the kids are waiting, they can play games, sort, and build with the sticks however they’d like.
And like I said, just grab a roll of tape and let them do as they please!
I’ve just found over the years that family get togethers go a little smoother and every is a bit happier if I come prepared with something for the kids to do.
What do your kids do at family get togethers?
How do you keep them busy so you can have adult conversation?
What Can Kids Do for Fun On Thanksgiving Day? on handsonaswegrow.com
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