Thanksgiving Games for Kids and Their Families
Make this the year your family begins a new tradition, or add to an already existing
family custom with some simple games. We've provided a list of
easy to learn, Thanksgiving games and instructions listed below.
Popcorn Relay Race
This is a bit messy, but well worth it to see relatives young and old playing together! Set out bowls full of popcorn at one end of the room and
empty bowls at another. Teams must transport the popcorn from full
bowl to empty, using a measuring cup.
Note: popcorn is a choking hazard for children under three!
"Thankerchief"
Arrange the children/players in a circle. Pass around a "thankerchief" (handkerchief) around as
everyone recites this poem:
Thankerchief, thankerchief, around you go --
Where you'll stop, nobody knows.
But when you do, someone must say,
What they are thankful for this day.
The player holding the "thankerchief" when the poem ends, must
say aloud, one thing for which they are thankful. This continues until
everyone has had a turn.
Hoop
Sticks
A traditional Native American game,played by kids and adults alike.
You'll Need:
A 12" wooden dowel or stick
for each player.
Yarn, string or twine, ~ 18" per stick.
Tie the yarn to the end
of the stick. Make a "hoop" at the other end. The object of the game is to catch the "hoop" with the end of your stick using only one
hand! It's not as easy as it sounds.
Tips:
Wrap the hoop in masking tape for younger children. The firmer hoop will give them a boost.
Decorate your sticks with Native American Symbols and beads. Divide into
teams. Use a kitchen timer--
The team with the most "hoops" within the time limit wins!
Turkey
Hunt !
Hunt quietly, you don't want to scare the turkeys...
On a dozen or so index cards, draw or paste a picture of a turkey.
To play, everyone leaves the room except the leader. The leader hides
the cards around the room. Hunters return
and begin the hunt.
As each turkey is found, it is brought back to the leader who corrals
them in a separate pile for each hunter. When all the turkeys have been found, the hunter with the most turkeys is the winner and becomes the leader for the next round.
Tip:
Let your children make the cards before the Holiday. They'll find lots of magazine pictures and can color some as well!
Where is Mr. Turkey?
Instead of saying "warmer...cooler" you gobble?
One player is the hunter and the others are helpers. The hunter leaves
the room. The helpers hide a small toy turkey. The hunter returns with a
mission to find the turkey. Helpers give clues by "gobbling"
like turkeys. If the hunter is not close, the helpers gobble very
quietly. As the hunter gets closer, the helpers gobble more and more
loudly until Mr. Turkey is found!
Don't forget the video camera!
Cornucopia
Players sit on chairs forming a circle. There should be one more player than there are chairs. The player without a chair is the
leader. The leader points to each of the other players to give them a
name, such as "Cranberry, Corn, Apple, Turkey," anything
related to Thanksgiving.
After names are chosen, the leader calls out two names,
"Turkey and potato." Those two players must quickly switch
places.
The leader keeps calling at a quick pace, until suddenly she
says
"The cornucopia has tipped over!" Everyone, including the
leader, then scrambles for a new place. The player with out a seat is
the new leader. The leader may give the same name to more than one
person.
This game can be confusing at first, but it is also very fun!
Pumpkin Race
Traditional County Fair Game.
Can be played in a yard, garage or even inside!
This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not nice smooth balls and
refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of
room!
You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks. The racers, line up
on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides. On the
signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish
line. Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
Can be played inside, using small pumpkins.
Stool Ball
An old outdoor game, using a light-weight three-legged stool, a soccer ball, and a strong stick.
Place the stool in the middle of the yard. One player is " the stoolie" and must defend the stool with the stick.
The others stand behind a line about 10 to 15 feet away. Each player takes a turn at trying to knock over the stool by throwing
the ball at it. The stoolie uses the stick to bat the ball away. The
player who successful at knocking over the stool is then deemed the new
"stoolie.
We found many variations to this game, our favorites were to protect the stool with your body (No hands) or using two balls players stand in a circle around the stoolie and stool with
both balls trying to knock down the stool at the same time.
Bird, Beast, or
Fish
You have to think fast for this game.
Everyone sits facing the leader. The leader points to one of the players
and says either "BIRD," "BEAST," or
"FISH." The chosen player must come up with the name of an
animal that fits the category before the leader counts to ten. No
repeating! If the player does not respond in time,
she is out. The game
continues until only one player remains.
As you can guess, after a few
rounds it can be hard to think of
an animal that has not already been
mentioned!
Twenty Questions
Traditional game
Choose someone or something related to Thanksgiving.
One player says "I am thinking of a person, place or thing"
The other players try to guess what it is by asking no more than twenty
questions which can be answered "yes," "no," or
"I don't know."
Related Links
Thanksgiving Crafts
Easy Games to Play During
Holiday Gatherings
Thanksgiving Home
Amazingmoms Home
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