So, you are cooking up a storm during the week of Thanksgiving, and the little ones are nipping at your heels and telling you they are bored. Sound familiar? The most stressful cooking event of the year– the Thanksgiving holiday–will be one that truly requires parents to get creative with kids’ activities. Why not try some of these fun ideas to keep the children occupied while you prepare the Thanksgiving feast.
Cleaning the House on Thanksgiving
One way to keep the children busy while preparing for Thanksgiving Day is to involve them with the cleaning chores. Older kids may balk, but the younger ones may surprise you with their willingness to strap on an apron or work smock and get busy with the dusting, window washing, and vacuuming. Have kids wash the windows in areas that are not going to be too important, in case they leave streaks. Dusting is a great activity for kids. Make sure you get some cool feather dusters or dust gloves in a rainbow of colors.
Another useful chore that will get the kids outside is raking. They may not do a great job, but at least they will be getting some fresh air!
Making Thanksgiving Clothespin People
This is a children’s Thanksgiving activity that will require some basic household items such as clothespins, yarn, small bits of fabric, glue, markers, and pipecleaners. Have the little ones create a Thanksgiving village full of clothespin figures such as pilgrims, indians, and turkeys! They can use their imaginations to create these special clothespin people. Set the kids up on a craft table out of the general way. Have them paste clothes onto the clothespins, draw faces, add hair and hats made from stiff black cardboard or velcro strips.
Handprint Turkeys, Placecards, or Wreaths
Handprint art is the classic way to keep kids busy during the Thanksgiving holiday. Handprint turkeys are easy to make. Trace your child’s handprint on a peice of paper and have her draw a beak, gobbler, eye, and legs. Then she can color the feathers and rest of the bird with crayons. To make wreaths and placecards, check the article Thanksgiving Gifts Kids Can Make for more detailed instructions.
Thanksgiving is a special time for families. It is also a challenge to keep small children busy in order to get the cooking and cleaning done in time for guests to arrive on Thanksgiving Day! Try the suggestions above and have a great Thanksgiving this November!
