Fun Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids

 Thanksgiving Traditions

Celebrate Thanksgiving and start a new tradition with your child. Start the day before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving and make simple recipes that have been handed down in your family. Teach your child thankfulness by making a gratitude list and display it for others to see. Have your child call relatives on Thanksgiving and wish them a happy holiday. Get your snow clothes on and head for the mountains to get a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas for Kids

Carved Pumpkin Centerpiece

If your child is younger, you’ll need to provide assistance for this project. You’ll need a medium size pumpkin, a leaf printout (large enough for the front of the pumpkin), carving utensils, 6-8 small pine cones and an orange or yellow ribbon.  You can most likely find a printout of a leaf on the Internet. Parents cut out the leaf and have your child trace it on the front of the pumpkin. Parents should carve the pumpkin and also cut and remove the top. Remove the inside of the pumpkin and save your seeds for roasting. Tie the ribbon around the stem. Place the pumpkin in the center of the table and place the pine cones around the pumpkin. Next, roast your seeds and place in a bowl next to your pumpkin for your guests to enjoy.

Tip: For a sweet snack, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over your pumpkin seeds and bake.

Mini Painted Pumpkins

You’ll need 4-6 mini pumpkins, paint (yellow, orange, green, dark orange or brown) and a paintbrush. Cover your table with newspaper to protect it from paint. Place different colors of paint on paper plates or other type of holder. Let your child paint the pumpkins. After drying, you can place them in the center of the table or you can place them in a large bowl and surround them with shelled nuts.

Pine Cone Basket

You’ll need a dozen pine cones, paint (yellow, orange, green, dark orange or brown), a paintbrush and a medium size basket. Cover your table with newspaper to protect it from paint. Have your child paint the pine cones using a paintbrush. For colorful designs, have your child use multiple colors for some of the pine cones. After drying, place in the basket. When ready, use as your centerpiece.

Place Holders Kids Can Make

Mini Pumpkin Place Holders

You’ll need a mini pumpkin for each guest, black or brown paint and a paintbrush. Cover your table to protect it from paint. Let your child paint each guest’s name on the pumpkin. If your child needs assistance spelling their names, write the names on a separate piece of paper for your child to copy. Let dry. When ready, use as place holders for your guests.

 Father’s Day Ideas

Choose from Father’s Day ideas for preschoolers, Father’s Day ideas for kids of all ages and Father’s Day gifts from baby. There are also several Father’s Day gifts below.

Gift Ideas

Give Dad a huge snack surprise! If he loves snacks, he will love KetoKits!

Healthy Snack Kit

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Sweet Candy Card

Materials:

Large card stock, color of choice

One dozen candy in packages (look for ones that you can create sentences with)

Black marker

Tape

1) Create message first using other paper.

2) Cross out or replace words on candy to suit your message.

3) Lay candy on card stock, leaving enough space for words.

4) Using marker, create your message.

5) Use tape to adhere candy to card stock.

Here is the message we used:

To an Extra (used Extra gum) Special Daddy (used Sugar Daddy, crossed out sugar)

Thank you for a great life with you (used lifesavers, replaced saver with with you). We were gonna take you on a trip to the Milky Way (used a mini Milky Way) or give you 100 Grand (used 100 Grand) or let you go on a shopping spree (used spree candies) or a trip to New York (used a York candy). But we thought you would enjoy this sweet letter better! We sure hope you don't burst (used Starburst, crossed out Star) or roll away (used a mini Milky Way, crossed out Milky) after eating all this sugar (used Sugar Daddy, crossed out Daddy). You are the best Daddy (used Sugar Daddy, crossed out Sugar). Don't stop (used Gobstoppers, crossed out Gob, replace with Don't and crossed out pers) being the coolest. 

Love, Mya

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Footprints

Materials:

White card stock

Frame

Black non-toxic washable ink pad (available at most craft stores)

Template from Internet or MS Word

1) Open your program of choice, i.e. Microsoft Word.
2) Select template.
3) Insert poem and additional wording of choice.
4) Print. Let dry.
5) Create footprints on paper using ink pad. Wash feet immediately.
6) Let paper dry. Insert into frame.

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My Daddy's Hand

Materials:

White card stock
Frame
3 pictures of daddy and child
Template from Internet or MS Word
Hand image (do a Daddy's hand search and many will come up)

1) Open your program of choice, i.e. Microsoft Word.
2) Select template.
3) Insert pictures.
4) Insert poem and additional wording of choice.
5) Print. Let dry and insert into frame.

Breakfast Ideas

Heart Pancakes

Start Father’s Day with some heart pancakes. Don’t forget the strawberries and whip cream!

1 egg

1 cup flour

¾ milk

2 tablespoons sugar or 3 packets of artificial sweetener

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt (optional)

Beat egg, combine the remainder of the ingredients, stir until smooth. Prior to heating the griddle or skillet, spray with non-stick spray. Using a funnel, pour the batter into a clean squeezable bottle. To make the heart shape, make the letter V. Funnel onto the griddle or skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown on the bottom, approximately two minutes. Turn and cook until the other side is golden brown.

Cinnamon French Toast

¼ cup milk or water

1 tablespoon sugar or 1 ½ packets of artificial sweetener

3 eggs

6-9 slices bread

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

Powdered sugar

1 tablespoon butter or substitute

Mix all ingredients except for powdered sugar and butter. Soak bread until moist. In skillet, heat butter or substitute until melted. Cook each slice of bread until golden brown. Turn and cook other side until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and your choice of syrup.

Cowboy Omelet

3 eggs

¼ chopped cooked meat (sausage, ham or turkey)

2 tablespoons chopped onion or ½ tablespoon dried onions

2 tablespoons chopped green or red bell peppers

¼ cup grated taco blend cheese

1 tablespoon butter or substitute

Mix all ingredients except meat, cheese and butter. Heat butter over medium heat in skillet until melted. Add mixture to skillet. Tilting skillet from side to side, run spatula under the edges of the omelet to loosen, cook until golden brown. Place meat and cheese cheese on half of omelet, fold and turn. Cook until golden brown in the middle.

Serve any of these breakfast ideas to Dad for breakfast in bed, don’t forget his

coffee or juice and your Father’s Day card!

Adventure Ideas

Hit the road for Father’s Day, take Dad on an adventure. Check the local paper for any type of event that might be happening for Father’s Day, such as a car show. Take him on a hike or camping if he enjoys the outdoors. Visit a museum, amusement park, take a cave tour or treat him to a movie. If he enjoys sports, take him to a baseball or football game. If he likes to play sports, go bowling or fishing.

Crafts Ideas

Make a Coupon Book for Dad

Many software programs have coupons that you can customize and print out. To make it fun for kids, they can use crayons or markers to make the coupons instead. Some ideas include coupons for taking the garbage out, garden or yard work, favorite dinner, movie night, pizza night, car wash, and big hugs and kisses.

Make a Video

Simple memories can be special moments for Dad. Make a video
of the special things Dad does or the times that the child or children love the
most. Ideas include outings that Dad takes with them, holidays or holiday traditions
that Dad has, things Dad has taught them, specific books Dad had read to them or favorite games played with Dad.