by Ramona Taylor

Created on: November 12, 2009   Last Updated: December 01, 2009

The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time for children to share time with family and friends. Since the very first Thanksgiving, kids have found ways to have fun and play games! From gliffes to tag to marbles, Pilgrim kids knew how to have a great time! Whether your child is a toddler or a tween, there are several fun Thanksgiving games for them to play.

BRAIN GAMES - Just like coloring and crafts, there are lots of brainy Thanksgiving games. Try games like Turkey Hash- a Thanksgiving themed word scramble or Thanksgiving themed seek and find sheets. These games add hours of family fun. Crosswords and puzzles are also great bets for holiday activities. Your trusty thrift and department stores may have lots of options. If not, you can find many of these games on the web.

THANKGIVING DAY BINGO - B-I-N-G-O! Everyone loves bingo! And, a Turkey Day theme version can bring loads of fun for your kids. You don't have to change your television viewing plans for this game either. Let the TV be your pal with Thanksgiving Day Bingo. Using these themed games, you can use the Macy's Day Parade or football games to find matches. This brings more excitement to tubetime in your home.

COMPUTER GAMES - Technology can be our friend when it comes to fun things to do with our kids. An entire selection of Thanksgiving activities are a simple drag and click away. Whether the option is the Internet or an interactive CD, your child can have hours of fun with Thanksgiving holiday related games. Check out your local stores or the web for age appropriate choices.

OUTDOOR FUN - Similar to Springtime egg races, you can try a Cranberry Spoon Race or Turkey Egg- Spoon Race. Substitute Thanksgiving related items. Use real cranberries in this variation of the relay race game. If you can't waste cranberries, you can take time to decorate special turkey eggs for your race game. If any cranberries or eggs fall of the spoon during the race the runner must start again. Another Easter favorite can be adapted for Turkey Day. Try a Turkey Egg or Turkey Hunt. Hide a turkey or a set of fall colored eggs (plastic versus hardboiled) somewhere in the yard. You can make your turkey or find a nice plush one at a thrift store. Have the children search for the turkey. Whoever finds it gets to hide it the next time. If weather is bad, you can bring this game inside. Other fun outdoor games include Deer Hunt, Turkey Strut, Turkey Trot or Across the Sea (Pilgrim themed blind fold games.) If you want more options, research the games actual Pilgrim children played like chase and checkers and add your Thanksgiving spin on them.

If you are looking for fun ways to celebrate Turkey Day with your child, don't fear. Despite what you might think, there are several games you, your child, friends and family can do to celebrate the wonder of the season.

Check out these sites for more activity ideas:

http://www.preschooleducation. com/sthanksgiving.shtml

http://familyfun.go.com/thanks giving/thanksgiving-games/

http://www.suite101.com/reference/thanksgiving_activ ities

http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/playtime/1107 _BINGO_parade.pdf

http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/playtime/1107 _BINGO_football.pdf

http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-ga mes/printable-thanksgiving-tv-bingo-707266/

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/color/turkh at9.gif

http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-maze.html

http://www.thekidzpage.com/thanksgiving_games/index. html

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