With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, are you looking for a few ways to keep the kids entertained while they wait for that delicious turkey??
Here are a few low-mess and easy to set up ideas to keep up your sleeve just in case:
1. Hand Stamped Memory Game — A simple game the kids can make themselves, then play!
2. Make Pretend Turkey Drumsticks — These look almost good enough to eat, and they are sure to inspire plenty of imaginative playtime fun!
3. Craft Up a Magic Leaf Wand — Pretend to magically make the leaves change color.
4. Put on Your Own Thanksgiving Day Parade — Why let a certain department store have all the fun?
5. Weave Your Own Placemats — Easy to do and quite useful too!
6. Coloring Pages — Many can be found around the web. We love these ones found at Kids Activities Blog and Mr. Printables.
7. Start a Thankful Journal — Any small notebook will do. If the kids are too young to write, encourage them to draw pictures of things they are most thankful for.
8. Craft Up Some Turkey Place Cards — No more confusion over where people should sit at the dinner table!
9. Beading with Cut Up Straws — Make some colorful necklaces for you and your friends.
10. Sing the “Autumn Leaves” Song — Then make up your own dance to go along with it!
Have fun!!
Dear Valerie,
I’d normally suggest “nap” here, but it’s probably not a good idea when the oven is on. With that being said:
11. Nap, very very carefully.
Love,
Mark
But you’re waiting for the turkey, you’re not supposed to nap until AFTER the turkey.
I need to get my kids to make some fake salad, that’d be a BIG hit!
I’m totally napping after the turkey.
Great ideas! They can also help with cooking and clean up if they are a little older.
YES!!! 🙂
That’s very true! It makes them appreciate what goes into a Thanksgiving meal. My son is making his own dish for the first time this year and I’m so proud!
How exciting!! What is he making? My kiddos are looking forward to making their own butter this year. 🙂
I am definitely going to use these ideas tomorrow. We have soooo many kids this year and these ideas are easy and will appeal to a wide age group.
I actually wish I had these back when I was a preschool teacher. The beading with straws would’ve been an easy way to calm a wild group of kids down quickly and is so great for developing fine motor skills!
Glad to hear it, Tracy! Sounds like you’ll have a full house tomorrow — Happy Thanksgiving!!
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but I sure like these crafts : )
Glad 2 have found U!
So happy to “meet” you! Thanks for stopping by, and now I’m following you on Twitter & Pinterest too. Your kiddos are adorable!!! 🙂