Your children may ask “what does Thanksgiving Day celebrate.” Thanksgiving was originally a holiday to give thanks to God for the harvest. Today it is an opportunity to give thanks for all the good things God has given us. It is also a day to celebrate family.
Click here to download our kids bulletin thanksgiving with scriptures, coloring pages and fun activities.
Chances are, your kids (and maybe even you!) could use a primer on the Pilgrims and Native Americans — and just why we feast and give thanks every November. Here is the Thanksgiving story for kids.
Long ago, in the early 1600’s, a group of people in England wanted to pray and worship God in their own way. The King controlled the Church of England, and everyone was ordered to go to the same type of church. Anyone who dared to disobey would be sent to jail.
The group of people who wanted to free the Church of England from the King’s rule, making it “pure” were known as the Puritans. To escape the rule of the King and his church, around 100 men, women and children left their homeland, with their dream of religious freedom. They sailed on a ship, the Mayflower — on a pilgrimage to the New World.
These travelers — the Pilgrims — landed in Plymouth after their six-week journey. It was December 11, 1620. The cold winter had set in. The land was strange to them, and nothing seemed familiar.
The winter was long, cold, and very hard for the Pilgrims. Native Americans helped by supplying them with seeds and food, teaching them about their new home, and giving them the skills needed to survive in a strange, new land.
Many foods were cooked — wild turkey, duck, and venison were probably served, along with fish, pumpkins, squash, corn, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. Captain Miles Standish, the leader of the Pilgrims, invited all of the Native Americans who had helped them so much during their first year. This harvest feast in 1621 is often called the “First Thanksgiving.”
Over the years, the day we now celebrate as Thanksgiving became an important tradition in the United States — a day of giving thanks for all that we have. In 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Fun and easy Thanksgiving Activities for Kids that will show them what gratitude is about…
Parents could probably use a few minutes away from the littles to concentrate on cooking and cleaning on Thanksgiving. With grown up “quiet time” in mind, we’ve rounded up some Turkey Day activities for children. These games and crafts can also be enjoyed before or after the meal. These goodies are for ages from toddlers on up and are so festive, that adults might even enjoy joining in! Many of these projects will result in cheery keepsakes you’ll pull out of storage year after year to brighten the house with sweet seasonal decorations—and memories just as wonderful.
WATERCOLOR FALL LEAF WREATH
If you don’t have a cutting machine, not to worry! You can cut leaves by hand or simply use faux autumn leaves available at your local craft store or dollar store, or even go outside and collect leaves to cover the paper plate wreath instead.
APPLE PAPER PLATE LACING CRAFT
Make this adorable apple craft with only a paper plate, hole punch, yarn, and construction paper! It’s SO simple and cute!
LEAF SCRATCH ART
Scratch art is always a huge hit with kids of all ages, and this leaf scratch art is so pretty – simply scratch at the surface of the paper with a scratching tool to reveal gorgeous fall colors!
LEAF PRINTED AUTUMN BANNER
Here’s another fun autumn banner that you can make with only paper, paint, twine, and some leaves from your yard!
TISSUE PAPER FALL TREE
Assorted colors of tissue paper give this fall tree the colorful look of the fall season!
For more crafts like these, visit happinessishomemade.net/easy-fall-kids-crafts-anyone-can-make/
These craft ideas celebrate everything the holiday brings: turkeys, pumpkins, and time to reflect on the many blessings in life. While kids glue, cut, and bedazzle these fall-friendly crafts, encourage them to think about what they’re thankful for, so they can have their list ready by Thanksgiving dinner.
These kid-focused projects are not only eye-catching, but they’re also extremely useful. We’ve included a bunch of Thanksgiving place cards, centerpieces. Your kids — no matter if they’re a toddler or old enough to tackle these crafts on their own — will find all of these crafts to be easy as pie (and adults will too!).
A version of this originally appeared on iVillage, goodhousekeeping.com, happinessishomemade.net, and countryliving.com.