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Thanksgiving Party Games for Children

Go beyond boring games at your next Thanksgiving party by allowing the children to play exciting one-of-a-kind party games. Aside from the many food dishes and chatty adults, games will keep the children busy throughout the party. Create games with a fall, Thanksgiving theme that allow the children to bond and laugh.

Bowling with Pumpkins
- You will need 10 empty 2-liter soda bottles and four to six medium-size pumpkins. Pumpkins can split when bowling, so having extra on hand is a great idea. Set the 10 soda bottles up like bowling pins. If you need to, put water or sand in the bottom of the bottles to get them to stand up. Mark a line about 10 feet away from the bottles. Each child gets five chances to knock down as many pins as he can with the pumpkins. The child with the highest amount of pins wins the game.
Pass the 'Thankerchief'
- Have all children sit in a circle and give one child a handkerchief. All children must pass the "Thankerchief" around the circle while reciting a poem. The poem goes "Thankerchief, Thankerchief, around you go, where are you going to stop, well know one knows. But when you do, I will say, what I am thankful for, on this very day!" The person holding the "Thankerchief" when the poem ends must share one thing for which she is thankful. Keep playing and singing the poem until everyone has had a turn.
Cornucopia Toss
- Purchase several wicker cornucopias at a craft store, as well as many pieces of plastic fruit. Pair the children up and give each pair one piece of plastic fruit and a cornucopia. Have the children stand about 5 feet apart and face each other. One partner should have the fruit and the other should have the cornucopia. When you say, "go," the partner with the fruit will try to toss it into the cornucopia that his partner is holding. If he makes it in the cornucopia, the team moves to the next round. If he misses, that team is out of the game. Each team that made it to the next round will take a giant step back and toss again. The team who can toss and make the fruit in the cornucopia from the farthest distance wins the game.
Turkey Hunt
- This is a spin-off on a traditional Easter egg hunt. Hide several small and medium-size plastic turkeys in the backyard or indoors. Find these turkeys at a retail store or craft store. Let the children have a turkey hunt to see who can find the most turkeys.

Party Games