Keeping Your Little Turkeys Busy on Thanksgiving

Today will be a quick post.

I can feel the holiday quickly approaching and there is much to do.

As much as I try to prep ahead of time and I like to involve the kids in the days activities, it is inevitable that I will be busy cooking and visiting with guests at some point during the day and the kids will decide they need entertainment at the same time. I like to keep a few simple activities stockpiled so that they can be with me and our guests but also have something to do that keeps them busy and is fun too. 

My criteria are the following:

I don't want a huge mess to clean up or to have to pull out a ton of supplies.  

I like open ended play or skill work because it keeps them busy longer and I figure anytime you can stretch their brains is a win.

Each year I go hunting.  I don't reinvent the wheel.  There are already so many ideas already out there.  These are the activities I have picked for this year:

Roll A Turkey

Roll a Turkey  is a game with a free printable from inspiration made simple.  My kids love this type of game.  You can print as many copies as you need and all it requires is a little cutting and dice.  I laminated it to make it more open play.  As they get tired of counting dots they can write a number in the margin and use the die to add and subtract too. 

THANKSGIVING fortune Tellers!

This printable joke teller from Bren Did will be a hit at our house.  My kids love jokes.  The more off the wall and corny the better.  Again all you have to do is print it and maybe assist with the folding for younger kids.  Making fortune tellers is my second graders jam so she will love this one and be able to help her brother.  The bonus is that they are reading while they play!  I also printed off a second version that is a gratitude fortune teller.  They can read and answer the questions and play with friends and guests too. 

There are several versions for all occasions on the Bren Did site. 

I Spy

This I Spy page from Paper Trail Design will also be a winner.  My son loves these.  Just print it out.  If you want to be the coolest mom you'll let them use a highlighter.  :)  Highlighters make everything more special. ;)

Turkey Corner Bookmarks -So Cute! 

Last, I have a printable folded turkey bookmark from the Printable's Fairy.  For some reason getting a bookmark for my kids is so exciting.  They misplace them as quickly as they get them but it is still exciting.  As soon as my daughter saw this one come out of the printer, she wanted it.  She has been asking me for it for days now. It is so cute!   When it goes missing, there are tons of different critters that can also be made into corner bookmarks. I am guessing this will lead to Grandma and Grandpa reading some books with the kids too.  Win!

Go! Run! Print!

Don't forget to post a picture of your little mess makers crafting and playing if you try any of these activities.  Let me know what they thought of them.  As always... share, like, subscribe and get messy!