Search Results for: blog fun ways to keep your kids entertained on thanksgiving

Putting Kids to Work During Thanksgiving Break

When you are cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 30 guests, there’s no room for pride. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in the kitchen… and other parts of the house. One of the biggest mistakes stressed out parents make during the chaotic countdown to turkey carving is letting their kids run around aimlessly when they could be helping with a myriad of holiday preparations. For example, even very young kids, can lend a hand when it comes to crafting decorations for your Turkey Day feast. Simply line a table with newspaper and let kids go to town making their own … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Boredom Busters for Kids

Today was the last day of school for many kids in our area. Thanksgiving break is now officially underway. That’s great news for students, but for harried parents trying to prepare their homes for Turkey Day guests having a bunch of bored children underfoot can be a holiday nightmare. If you are looking for ways to preserve your sanity while the kids are home next week, consider these fun Thanksgiving-themed activities that will yield hours of fun and some nifty holiday decorations in the process: HOMEMADE INDIAN CORN Materials: Green and yellow construction paper Scissors Craft glue Dried beans Pencil … Continue reading →

Pilgrim Party

When my daughter was a preschooler she would countdown to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas by watching the Peanuts Holiday Treasury DVD. I’m pretty sure that’s why she suggested we skip the turkey, and instead dine on toast, pretzels, jelly beans and popcorn on Thanksgiving night. However, last year she added a new Charlie Brown video to her holiday repertoire: “The Mayflower Voyagers.” The animated show gives a kid-friendly overview about what the First Settlers endured to get to America and what it took to pull of the very first Thanksgiving celebration. Shortly after watching the DVD, my daughter started referring … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Fun with Feathers

T-minus 10 days until Turkey Day. In my house the adults are running around like decapitated chickens while the kids watch and wonder what all the fuss is about. If you are hosting pint-sized out-of-town guests like we are, then the following Thanksgiving activities are your ticket to getting little ones to lend a hand. Who knew that leftover toilet paper rolls, some construction paper feathers and a box of Rice Krispies could turn a Turkey Day buffet into a kid-friendly holiday oasis? TOILET PAPER TUBE TURKEY Materials: Empty roll of toilet paper or paper towel Red, yellow, and orange … Continue reading →

Fun Stuff-ing

(My daughter and her stuffed pumpkin) Fall in the first grade was fun, but in second grade the season is stupendous. Thanks to a very crafty mom, my daughter’s entire class spent Halloween handcrafting these adorable stuffed pumpkins. The gourds are made of orange fabric and stuffed with Fiberfill. Before securing the top of the pumpkin with drawstring, each child was given a stick to place in the center of the fluff. Once the stick was upright, the drawstring was secured and fabric leaves were threaded on the wooden rod. Next, pieces of raffia were tied at the top of … Continue reading →

Cornucopia of Fun Fall Touches

The calendar may say November, but judging by the snow pack in my front yard, I would say that Old Man Winter has arrived and is planning to stay for a while. Unfortunately, the early and unwelcome dumping of nearly four inches of the white stuff has put a damper on my fall outdoor decorations. On the bright side, my indoor seasonal embellishments have fared much better. Tis the season to drape your home in oranges, yellows and reds. Then, add some leaves, acorns and berries, and you’ve got a fun and festive centerpiece to display on your Thanksgiving buffet. … Continue reading →

Dressing Up for Thanksgiving Dinner

What outfit do you don before sitting down to gorge on your Thanksgiving feast? Some families have a tradition of wearing their Sunday best to celebrate the festive holiday meal, while others throw on their comfiest elastic waist pants and chow down like there’s no tomorrow. Then, there are those families. You know; the ones that take Turkey Day to a whole new level. Rather than sport a suit or sweats to the dinner table, they dress up like our country’s first settlers or the centerpiece of the celebratory buffet. If you are looking to spice up your turkey dinner, … Continue reading →

Get Your Gobble On

Is there anything cuter than dressing up your little piggy as a turkey? When my daughter was a baby she really didn’t need to don a butterball costume to get into the holiday spirit. She could just show up to dinner with a few smears of gravy on her chubby cheeks and guests would know exactly which Thanksgiving dish she was masquerading as. Whether you want your child to sport a Tom the Bird getup to spice up your Thanksgiving dinner, your little guy just landed a starring role in his school’s Turkey Day play, or you just want him … Continue reading →

Get Creative with Cranberries

I live in the heart of cranberry country. Wisconsin leads the nation in cranberry production, and this year the state harvested one of its largest crops ever. We’re talking 7,363,000 barrels of the tart and juicy crimson berries. Did you know that cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America? Concord grapes and blueberries complete the list. However, with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, all eyes are on the festive-looking cranberry. Fortunately, cranberries are an incredibly versatile fruit that can be used to create an array of seasonal treats, from decorations to delicious desserts. What’s … Continue reading →

Fall Crafts For Kids

Once the days start getting shorter and there is a chill in the air the kids will be spending more time inside. It only takes a day or two for them to get bored of their toys and TV and start saying they are bored. It’s time to find some ways to entertain them. As a single mother I’m always looking for inexpensive things to do with Hailey, things that will keep her busy and allow us to spend time together doing something besides watch television. Fall really does lend itself to all sorts of inexpensive craft ideas. Just grab … Continue reading →