4 fun Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers
The holiday season is in full swing, and you may be looking for some fun activities for the kids you’re caring for. Whether you are looking for a fun craft or an engaging activity, we have you covered! Here are 4 of our favorite Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers.
Thankful turkey craft
This fun craft is a great opportunity to reflect on what we’re grateful for this season.
To prepare:
Cut out a simple, turkey body and head (basically the shape of an 8) out of brown craft paper
Cut feather shapes out of several different fall-themed colors: red, brown, orange, yellow, green
Start crafting:
Let the kids add googly eyes or draw their own eyes and beaks on the turkey faces
Ask the kids list what they are grateful for, and write one thing on each feather - it can be mom and dad, school, their favorite activities - anything they like
Glue each feather slightly behind their turkey body so the feathers stick out and display the things the kids are grateful for
This craft is easily adaptable to the kids’ skill level - they can cut out the traced feathers themselves, write the words if they are able, and glue the feathers onto the turkey, or you can do it together!
Paper plate turkey craft
A classic craft that really gets the kiddos’ creative juices flowing, it’s time to create a turkey!
To prepare:
Gather any crafting materials you have: feathers, googly eyes, colored paper, markers and crayons, pipe cleaners, even glitter confetti if you want - as well as regular paper plates and glue
Start crafting:
Start by coloring in the paper plate a basic turkey brown. Talk about turkey parts that need to be added - eyes, feathers, maybe feet or a beak - and then let the kiddo get to work crafting the most wild, or funny, or accurate-looking turkey they can come up with
Pro tip: roll out and tape down paper or plastic wrap on the craft table for easy clean-up - no matter how much glitter confetti flew off the turkey.
Thanksgiving turkey tag
This activity gives you the chance to be outside and practice rules and turn-taking, while also letting off some of that famous excess preschooler energy!
To prepare:
Get several clothespins and colorful ribbons
Attach a ribbon with a clothespin to the bottom of sweaters of jackets on every participant in the game so that they trail behind the kid, 1-2 per person, or more with older kids
Play the game:
In this game of tag, everyone is trying to catch the feathers off the other turkeys at once
After the person leading the game yells Ready, Set, Go!, all of the turkeys will chase each other and try to pull the feathers off
When all of your feathers are gone, you are out for that round, and the last turkey with feathers left wins!
Knock over the turkeys
This is another fun activity where kids get a chance to get out of their seats and practice coordination - plus the turkeys are very cute!
To prepare:
Get 6 or more plastic cups - brown if possible, or you can let the kiddos color them with marker
Glue googly eyes or draw eyes on the turkeys
Cut triangles of construction paper and glue on for beaks
Play the game:
Stack 6 plastic cups upside down into a pyramid on a table or other flat surface outside (or somewhere inside without fragile objects nearby)
Using a ball or rock (or something softer for inside), let the kids stand a few feet away and try to knock down the Turkey Tower
First one to knock them down wins!
This game is also easily adaptable depending on age - you can make higher pyramids and change how far away the contestants are standing from the turkey towers.
Have fun with preschoolers this Thanksgiving
If you have other favorite Thanksgiving activities, crafts, or just fun holiday ideas for your preschoolers, let us know! Pop into our Facebook or Instagram and share what you’ve been doing (tag us @smartsitting so we can ooh and aah!). And remember, it’s not about how cute the turkey turns out, it’s how much glitter you spread along the way.
Do you have what it takes to be a nanny who children and families will be thankful for?
Apply to Smart Sitting today and let us connect you with your ideal nanny job!
For more tips on fun kids’ activities as well as useful information about the nanny profession sign up for our nanny newsletter.