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Trying to keep children busy on Thanksgiving can be difficult. Making sure they have things to do and games to play can help keep their boredom and frustration at bay. Even before the big meal children need to be occupied. Making crafts is one way for children to stay busy. This craft not only will keep them busy but also will help them stay in touch with everyone in the family that has come to spend the day with them.

What You’ll Need

* Construction paper
* Markers and colored pencils
* Glue
* Scissors
* Magazine with Thanksgiving pictures
* Stickers
* Glitter glue

Instructions

Give your children the craft items before the family starts to arrive. Find a place where they can spread out to make their placemats and not be in the way of the cooking.

Using the construction paper as the mat let the kids go to town decorating their placemats. They can use markers to draw and color pictures. Pictures from old magazines can be cut out and glued to the construction paper also. Stickers can be placed anywhere on the paper. Be sure the stickers are of Thanksgiving items to help the children stay in touch with the holiday. Using glitter glue to outline the placemat is a nice touch too.

Once they have enough placemats for everyone then the real fun begins. As family and friends come to the house they will need to receive a placemat. If there’s not enough room for the kids to hang out by the door, have them sit in an area where your guests must pass as they come in. As each guest passes have them stop and pick out a placemat. Once they have decided on which one they want have the children use the colored pencils to put the guests name on the placemat. Then they can escort their guest to the table and leave the placemat in the designated seat for that guest.

Not only does this help to keep children occupied but it also gives them one on one time with their family members. Feeling useful is important to children and this is one way to show them you appreciate their help and keep them busy too.

Submitted by Christmas Fun

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