battlemaiden Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 We will have 17-20 kids for thanksgiving this year. The kids will have a separate eating area on our lanai while the adults sit down for a formal dinner. Every year I put together an activity for the kids to work on after dinner to buy us some time before putting on a movie (I like a long lingering dinner). I have done popsicle stick frames, poetry painting on our plastic fence (huge hit), and last year they could paint or bejewel raw wood photo frames that I bought in bulk. Any great ideas for this year? I'll have ages 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15- with some multiples in there to add up to 17 kids for sure. It is a great group of older kids who will do a great job working with the younger, so that isn't a problem. I'm just fishing for ideas. Mahalo! ~Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 One year my mom printed out a bunch of Thanksgiving themed crossword puzzles, word searches and coloring pages to keep the kids occupied. They were a hit. She also had a glass container filled with candy and whoever guessed the closest won the container. Also a huge hit. They kept passing the jar around and trying to count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlemaiden Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 One year my mom printed out a bunch of Thanksgiving themed crossword puzzles, word searches and coloring pages to keep the kids occupied. They were a hit. She also had a glass container filled with candy and whoever guessed the closest won the container. Also a huge hit. They kept passing the jar around and trying to count. Thanks. I thought about that, but with all the ages I'm thinking I'll need something a little more interactive. There will be plenty-o-boys, and if it isn't interesting they'll reach for the nerf-guns, which I'm trying to discourage on Thanksgiving (we have crazy neighbors that call security if we are too loud :glare:). The guessing jar is a fantastic idea! It is on the Plan of the Day. ~Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Check out Oriental Trading dot com. They have tons of crafts for Thanksgiving that are very easy and good for many age groups. They are cheap and come by the dozen. I use this company for our Christmas open house every year. We make ornaments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 My mom had these Find It games on each table. It was a blast. Everyone got into it. Not the theme you were looking for but a good memory maker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 My kids and their cousins spend that evening making gingerbread houses every year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) What about having some salt dough Christmas ornaments for them to decorate w/ glitter and glue ons. I love the ones that smell like cinnamon. Of course, the littles might try to eat them. (or pre-make and bake some ornaments w/ that light weight sculpey clay stuff) We made picture frames out of tongue depressors one year at cub scout day camp, and they decorated them w/ leaves, sticks, and things they found laying around outside. That was a hit. Leaf rubbings (rub the crayon over the ribbed side of leaves) to go in the picture frames? Edited October 4, 2011 by Unicorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Make placemats? They could make ones with fall leaves if you have a lot of leaves around. Put them on paper, then cover with clear contact paper on both sides. Or make christmas themed ones. I like the idea of gingerbread houses too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amey311 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 If the poetry painting was a hit, you could always bring that back. What about a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt (going from clue to clue)? If you live somewhere with autumn foliage, these are cute: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/fall-crafts/nature-crafts/foliage-friends-671141/ Do you celebrate Christmas? Would making handprint wreaths be a good idea? It might be too much cutting. Or something like this: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/winter-crafts/more-winter-crafts/cheery-cupcake-wrapper-wreath-940823/ Ornaments of some kind? Something with salt dough? How much "mess" are you able to handle (for example, if you're limited to the living room that has carpet, you might not want paint) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annlaura Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Cover the table with paper and put crayons and/or colored pencils out. There are lots of ideas on the crafty crow, sorry - having trouble linking atm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Yes! The tissue paper crafts like this: http://www.orientaltrading.com/foam-and-crinkle-tissue-paper-indian-corn-craft-kit-a2-48_4633-12-1.fltr?Ntt=tissue+paper+craft take FOREVER to do and are very cute. LOL They have a few styles like the Indian corn, a pumpkin, candy corn (no fall leaves, I know because I was looking...). There is an adhesive section that you peel off and then little squares of tissue paper that you crinkle up a bit and then stick them to the shape. You *can't* mess these up--however, there are more complicated shapes/pictures like the turkey or snowman where you do sort of need to put the right color in the right spot. We did these several years ago--Easter eggs--and the kids really liked them! (Kept them busy at great-grandma's very boring house. LOL) Also, there are fun coloring and activity placemats that can keep them busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Oreo Turkeys...oreo base, frosting, Hershey kiss head, Candy corn feathers, and redhot gobbler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 My mom had these Find It games on each table. It was a blast. Everyone got into it. Not the theme you were looking for but a good memory maker. You can make these with two liter bottles, colored rice, and whatever small items you can find around the house that fits. You can get your items back when done with them. You can make smaller versions for the younger kids with a 1 liter bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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