This annual holiday
is observed as a day
to commemorate the
Pilgrim's harvest of
1621, to give thanks
for blessings great
and small, and to
have fun! The
festivities need not
be elaborate just an
opportunity for some
fun quality time.
One important thing
to remember when
playing games is
that all the
children should be
"rewarded" equally
for participating or
winning.
Visit
Thanksgiving
Party Theme
ideas section of
our Party
Ideas. Many
of these
classic
games can be
converted to
tie in to a
Thanksgiving/harvest
theme with a
simple name
or prop
change. Try
one of the
following:
"Pin
the Tail
on the
Donkey"
"Pin
the
Wattle
on the
Turkey"
"Duck,
Duck,
Goose"
"Turkey,
Turkey,
Stuffing"
"Hot
Potato"
"Hot
Turkey"
(with a
stuffed
animal
turkey)
"Dress
Up
Relay"
Use
simple
scarecrow,
Native
American
or
Pilgrim
costumes.
"Ring
Toss"
"Ring
around
the
Gourd"
(assign
different
point
values
to
different
sizes of
gourds,
pumpkins
or dried
Indian
corn.
"Three
Legged
or Sack
Races"
Add an
autumnal
touch by
creating
an
obstacle
course
using
pumpkins,
corn
stalks,
and
bales of
hay.
Turkey
Calling
Contest
Host a
turkey
calling
contest,
complete
with
lots of
squawking,
flapping,
wattle
shaking,
and
pecking.
Give
each
participant
a prize
with a
fun
distinction:
"loudest
turkey",
"most
authentic",
"most
likely
to be
spared",
"cutest
turkey",
etc.
This
activity
can also
be
turned
into a
relay
race
with the
class
split
into two
teams.
Loud,
but fun!
(Ages
4-Adult)
Turkey
Bowling
- The
turkey
will
definitely
be
tenderized
after
participating
in this
game!
Use a
frozen
turkey
in place
of a
bowling
ball
(one
that
comes
packaged
with a
handle
attached)
in a
size
that is
appropriate
for the
age of
the
children.
The
frozen
turkey
is
hurled
at a set
of
bowling
pins
(use the
real
thing,
tall
wooden
blocks
or
plastic
milk
bottles
filled
with
stones).
One
parent
helper
can
reset
the pins
after
each
turn.
This
game is
a big
hit with
every
crowd!
(Ages
5-Adult)
Balloon
Popping
Contest
Divide
the
children
into two
equal
groups.
Place
two bags
of
inflated
harvest
colored
Balloons
about 25
yards
away .
These
balloons
should
be
over-inflated
to make
popping
easier.
At the
sound of
a bell,
the
first
two
relay
contestants,
one from
each
team,
run to
the bag,
and
remove
one
balloon.
Each
must sit
on it
until it
pops.
Once the
balloon
pops,
the
players
run back
to the
starting
line and
tag the
next
player
in line.
The
first
team to
complete
the
course
wins. If
you have
children
who are
afraid
of the
sound of
popping
balloons,
offer a
grown-up
stand-in.
Not a
quiet
game but
a
guaranteed
favorite!
(Ages
4-Adult)
Pass
the Corn
Divide
the
children
into two
teams
and have
them
