Thanksgiving activities for kids
The days around Thanksgiving are busy for adults and long for kids. A few simple activities can keep ages 4 to 8 involved in the holiday without turning the kitchen into a craft studio.
Color together before the meal
Set out coloring pages at the kids' table or on the coffee table while dinner finishes. Children can color a turkey, a pie or a parade balloon and then show the picture to relatives as they arrive.
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Thanksgiving Coloring Book for Kids Ages 4-8
Fifty easy Thanksgiving pages with turkeys, pumpkins, pies, scarecrows and woodland animals. Thick lines and large shapes make it a good choice for ages 4 to 8, including kids who are still building fine-motor control.
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Crayola Washable Crayons, 24 Count
A shared box of washable crayons for cousins at the kids' table. Easy to pack if you are traveling to someone else's house.
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Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Markers, Broad Line, 10 Count
Washable markers for kids who want brighter color on pumpkins and pies. Keep a damp cloth nearby for fingers, and use them on the single-sided coloring pages so marks stay on one picture.
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Talk while they color
Ask each child to tell you about the page they chose. A fox in a pumpkin patch or a turkey in a parade can open a short conversation about favorites, family visits or a food they hope is on the table. That kind of talk is as valuable as the finished picture.
A gratitude page without extra supplies
After coloring, hand a child a blank sheet of paper and invite them to draw one thing they are thankful for. Younger kids can dictate a sentence for you to write at the bottom. Older kids can write their own. Slip the drawings into a folder or tape them to a cabinet for the weekend.
Traveling to a relative's house
A paperback coloring book and a small crayon pouch take little space in a tote bag. They occupy kids in the car and give cousins something to do together after the meal. If you are buying for grandchildren you will see at Thanksgiving, wrap the book and crayons as a small host-family gift the kids can open on arrival.