Thanksgiving Day Projects, Games and Activities for Kids

There are numerous activities that a creative parent or friend can engage children in on Thanksgiving Day or in honor of the holiday. Here are a few suggestions:

Make a Musket or Blunderbuss for the Little Pilgrims

There is nothing quite as cute as a little pilgrim, and any pilgrim worth his salt will likely want to go hunting for a Thanksgiving turkey. A fun craft project a kid can do with a minimum of supplies is to make a musket or blunderbuss. Empty paper towel tubes (or the hollow core of saran wrap) painted black can serve as most of the barrel and a plastic cup painted black and placed in the end of the tubes will create the unique opening for blunderbuss. A hunting we will go!

Popcorn Toss

All stories concerning the original Thanksgiving mention popped corn. There are few different ways to incorporate popcorn into a kid's thanksgiving. Microwave popcorn is always an option and stove top popping would be quite authentic. The popcorn can also be used to create a fun popcorn toss game where small children try to toss their favorite snack item into buckets that are staggered in various lengths away from the starting line. Kids love to play with their food, and this game will give them that opportunity.

Write a Thanksgiving Poem

Have a creative writing contest at Thanksgiving built around a concept. How about an acrostic poem utilizing the letters of the words "Thanksgiving" or "Pilgrim." A poem can also be written about what a child feels thankful for this holiday season.

Pin the Leg on the Turkey

A fun game to create and play with children at Thanksgiving is a variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey presented as Pin the Leg on the Turkey. All Mom or Dad has to do is draw a turkey outline and the outline of a few drumsticks. Provide a blindfold and some Velcro or double-sided tape, and the children will be in for plenty of fun.

Turkey in the Straw

Another fun activity to keep the kids entertained on Thanksgiving is a rousing game of Musical Chairs set to the music of Turkey in the Straw. As a matter of fact, the adults may even want in on this game! The prize for the last child standing can be Pilgrim hat or the first slice of turkey at dinner.

Children love to be creative and engage in activities. This Thanksgiving, give them the best of both worlds with a variety of fun projects and unique holiday-centered games.