Thanksgiving Guide

Need some ideas to keep the kids busy while dinner is being prepared or so the adults can have some adult time. Try these activities. Most are easy and can be done with none or little adult supervision.

Autumn Party ware

This makes a festive backdrop for family group pictures.

Party Hint:

You may want to make the tree ahead of time and just have the children create the leaves for everyone to participate.

Activity: Thanking Tree:

You will need:

___ brown grocery bags or Kraft paper

___ colored craft paper (red, green, yellow, and orange)

___ tape and scissors

___ a basket or bowl or some other container to hold leaves

___ markers in different colors

To Make:

Make a tree from brown grocery bags or Kraft paper. Attach it to a wall in a prominent spot within the party area.

Make leaves out of the colored craft paper, different sizes, and shapes. Place them in a basket underneath the tree.

Set markers and tape in the leaf basket.

Have everyone take at least one leaf and write down what they are thankful down and tape it to the tree. Tape some like they are falling from the tree and some on a small pile at the bottom of the tree.

To assist you check out our tree template and leaf template.

For easier leaf making print out some sheets of our leaf template in color and use these for your leaves.

Game:

Check out our Catering supplies

These are nice to send home cookies or cakes with each family after the festivities. Or to even send home leftover foods. No need to worry about returning dishes.

Ring a Pumpkin:

You will need:

___ At least 4 pumpkins

___ 3 Hula hoop or other hoop that will go around the pumpkin

___ Paint or marker

___ something to create a throw line, masking tape if inside, spray paint if outside, sidewalk chalk or even a piece of rope will work

To set up the game:

Paint numbers on each pumpkin for scoring. 10 on one, 20 on another, and so on.

Make a line for contestants to stand behind for when it is their turn.

Set pumpkins up in a row first one should be at least 10 feet from the throw line. Then space them at least 2 feet from each other. This of course can be adjusted depending on the contestant ages.

How to Play:

Each person uses the hoops and stand behind the line to try to throw a hoop over the pumpkins. Each contestant gets 3 turns. High score wins.

Game: Thanksgiving Charades:

___ Jar

___ pen or pencil

___ paper

During the week leading up to Thanksgiving have family members write down things they are thankful for. Add to the jar. On Thanksgiving Day, gather the entire family around for a game of charades. One person goes first and picks a piece of paper and using body movements try to tell the rest of them what they are acting out. No words are to be used. Whoever guesses the correct answer is the next one to act out a thankful thing.