Thanksgiving Activities

Thanksgiving activities are a wonderful way to involve children in the valuable moral lesson which this celebration provides.

Thanksgiving Activities

This is a perfect toddler project (even before he can 'draw'). Place a large piece of paper (left over wall paper works well) on the floor or table. (We often tape ours down for the younger ones but they need close monitoring as some are fascinated with tape and may want to explore it with their mouths too!) Provide pencils, crayons or felt tips pens (markers).

Start drawing your favourite things and your child is sure to join you (if he didn't come as soon as he saw you set up). This is a perfect time to talk about what you and child are thankful for while drawing together. This is one my favourite toddler activities as well as being very popular with the many toddlers I've cared for.

The next two are great activities for 2 year olds and up who are verbal.

Giving Thanks

This could be done at dinner or anytime. This is a perfect activity for the whole family. Take it in turns to tell everyone what they are grateful for. You can go round as many time as it keep your family's interest.

Pasting around an object (like a toy turkey) makes this thanksgiving activity feel more like a game. Having the rule that your only allowed to talk if you have the turkey also helps younger one's take turns.

My Thankful Book

1. Start by asking your child what she grateful for and make a list.
2. Then cut A4 (or letter) sized card into two pieces. Use several pieces of card, one for each page.
3. On the front cover you could write '[your child's name]'s Thankful Book' or '[your child's name] is thankful for...' maybe with your her photo.
4. Write one object she's chosen on each page.
5. You could either ask an older toddler to draw pictures. Or cut a few pictures of each thing out of magazines, print-outs from Internet searches or photographs. Let your toddler stick the pictures to the card. Paper glue-sticks work well with this sort of collage.
6. When it's finished hole-punch three holes (one at each end and the other in the middle).
7. Use three pieces of string, wool or ribbon 8-12 inchs long. Make a loop twice the size of the distance between the hole and the left side of the paper and make a knot. You could tie it into a bow and then double knot it. This way doesn't look quite as nice but it is practical since you can see the whole page and it's easier to turn. Alternatively you could buy a thin plain notebook.

Parenting tip for your toddler: Unless your toddler loves art. I'd recommend that you spread this large toddler project over a few days since toddlers usually have such short attention spans.

Toddler Cooking

This is an awesome toddler project as most toddler love cooking and this is so simple and useful for your Thanksgiving feast.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup shortening or butter

Parenting tip for your toddler: Playing the 'your turn, my turn game' is particularly useful during toddler cooking activities. It teaches an important social skill too!

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Wash both your and your toddler's hands and pull up and chair or stool to your kitchen counter top. Wearing an apron makes it feel even more special to a toddler.
3. Measure out the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt and let your toddler transfer it to a large mixing bowl one at a time.
4. Let your him give it a stir. This is a good time two bring out a 9 inch square baking pan, a greasing brush and small beaker of oil and place them on the side, if you haven't done so already.
5. Measure out the milk and butter, crack the eggs in the cups and ask your toddler to pour them in too.
6. Set him up to grease the pan and beat the mixture for 1 minute. You could use this time to do a little clean up until he gets bored. Take your turn if he's left gaps but remember to thank him for his help. Hey, it is Thanksgiving. ;-)
7. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until bread is golden brown and tests done.

The recipe is from All Recipes, I also made some alterations that were recommended in the comments.

For more toddler cooking projects click here.

Thanksgiving Crafts

Thanksgiving activities have got to include a turkey! If she hasn't seen a real one before, it might be nice to show her a photo of one first.Draw and cut out a turkey head and body (which could look like a chunky skittle or a bowling pin) out of brown paper or card. Also draw and cut out a crop, beak and eyes (or use googly eyes). Provide craft feathers and PVC glue and let him stick all the pieces on the body wherever she likes.

Indian Headbands

Cut a long chunky strip out of a large piece of brown card or construction paper. But if you don't have any you could tape shorter pieces together. The headbands could be any colour really but to make two Thanksgiving activities in one she could sponge paint or colour on the strips first. When the paint's dry let her stick feathers to the strips.

When the glue's dry, wrap the card/paper around her head and hold it together. Then take it off staple to make the headband. Tip: staple it so the flat part is on the inside so it's less likely to irritate your child's skin.

Feather Painting

Use feathers instead of paintbrushes for a change and different effect.

I hope you and your little one enjoy these Thanksgiving activities. Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratefully leap from Thanksgiving Activities to Seasonal Toddler Activities