Does your family do anything fun after you're done eating on Thanksgiving?
After you and your kids help yourselves to firsts, seconds, and maybe even thirds of some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes, here are some ideas for getting your bodies moving and having some fun.
Melanie Frenkel & Heidi Drake say that it’s not mandatory to stay indoors and veg out watching football all day…
And I agree!
You can get the whole family bundled up to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Maybe you’ll even see some families putting up Christmas lights.
Another suggestion they have is…
Create a backyard treasure hunt for the kids–have them search for Thanksgiving-themed items like mini pumpkins, leaves, turkeys, pumpkin pies, pilgrims, etc. These items can be made from construction paper or can be purchased at party stores.
It’s almost like an Easter Egg hunt, but Thanksgiving style!
Here’s one that would make for some funny entries in the family photo album:
Start an annual family Turkey Trot. Players pair up by linking their elbows. Each team has their own turkey mascot (maybe a football with a construction-taped turkey face on it, a stuffed animal turkey, or a brown bag stuffed with newspaper and decorated like a turkey). The first team to make it to the finish line without dropping the turkey and unlinking their arms wins.
Frenkel & Drake also have ideas for setting up a Thanksgiving craft table in the back yard, fully stocked with construction paper and glue…and also a Thanksgiving themed bowling game by using 2-liter soda bottles as the pins and a pumpkin as the ball.
The idea here is that it’s easy to get moving and have fun…
You can also play freeze tag, play “Mother May I”, toss a football around with each other, play frisbee, or play in a pile of leaves.
More Parenting Advice: What fun outdoor Thanksgiving Activities do you and your family enjoy playing together after you eat The Big Meal?
Take Turkey Day Outside [PlayOutdoors]
