by Sarah Ganly

Created on: November 13, 2009   Last Updated: November 14, 2009

Thanksgiving Day is a time when families come together to eat good food and spend time with the people they love. If you have a big family with a lot of kids, it is important to keep the kids amused by playing Thanksgiving Day games with them. Thanksgiving Day games for kids can be a lot of fun for the whole family, and this article will describe four fun Thanksgiving Day games you can play with the kids and your family.

1. Turkeys are a popular symbol of Thanksgiving, and the turkey hunt game is fun to play and to get prepared for. For this game you will need several images of turkeys. You can make them beforehand with your kids, or you can print out several pictures of turkeys. I would make sure to have at least 5 turkeys per kid attending your party.

When all of the kids are assembled you will need to choose a leader. Give all of the turkeys to the leader and help them hide the turkeys all over the house. You can also choose to keep this game in one room by using a child's bedroom as the limits for turkey hiding. After all the turkeys are hidden have the other kids hunt for them, and return the found turkeys to the leader. Whoever finds the most turkeys can receive a prize or become the leader the next turn. This Thanksgiving Day game will get the kids excited, and it will keep them busy for hours.

2. Another fun Thanksgiving Day game for kids is a pumpkin roll race. You can play this game in the yard or in your house. For this game you will need a pumpkin or gourd for each kid, 2 long pieces of rope, and 2 sticks. Make a starting line for the race and have all the kids stand with their pumpkins behind the line. Make a finish line with the other rope across the yard or room. Instruct the kids that they must only use their sticks to roll the pumpkins, and remind them that using hands means you must go back to the start line. This Thanksgiving Day game is also suitable for younger kids, and you should allow them to use their hands.

3. A fun and festive Thanksgiving Day game is the leaf hunt. Rake a huge pile of leaves onto a large tarp. Stash little wrapped candies and plastic toys in the pile of leaves. Gather all of the kids together, and on the count of three let them dive in. Kids will have a blast finding special treats and playing in the leaves with this Thanksgiving Day game.

4. For a hilarious and fun Thanksgiving Day game that you and your kids will get a kick out of try the pumpkin pass game. For this game you will need 2 small pumpkins and several kids. Have all of the kids separate into 2 lines, and place a pumpkin at the feet of the first person in each line. Instruct the kids that they must pass the pumpkin along the line without using their hands. Watching your kids use their elbows, necks, and feet to pass the pumpkin will make for great photos, and this game will make everyone laugh. The group to get the pumpkin to the end of the line first wins.

These Thanksgiving Day games are a great way to get kids involved on Thanksgiving, and these games will help keep you, your kids, and your guests amused. Try these fun Thanksgiving Day games this holiday!

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