The Night Before Thanksgiving Preschool Game

By Charlene Haukom

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, preschoolers are stirring…and ducking, stretching, and even reading! Get your preschooler excited about Thanksgiving with this fun and family oriented Indoor Preschool Game.

What You Will Need

A can of Pure Pumpkin
Brown sugar
All-Purpose Flour
Salt
Cinnamon
Ground Ginger
Ground Nutmeg
Pepper
Ground Cloves
Eggs
Evaporated Milk
Ready made pie crust

How To Play

1. Make a list of the items above. If possible, include pictures of the items. If you have the time, make flash-cards of the items with stamps, pictures, or product labels. *Note: If you don’t plan on making the pie, you can skip some of the spices.

2. Arrange the items in your pantry or kitchen cabinets. Keep the items low enough for your preschoolers to spot, but don’t make it too easy for them. If you put some things a little high and some a little low, you’ll widen your preschooler’s line of sight.

3. Set the timer and send your preschooler into the pantry or kitchen armed with the list. How much time you put on the clock will vary depending on the age/maturity of your preschooler and whether or not you have pictures on the list. Ideally, your preschooler will match the letters on the list with the actual item – a great way to introduce your preschooler to reading. If your preschooler is on the younger side, do a couple of practice runs together so s/he’ll know what to look for.

4. Make the pie! Spend some quality time in the kitchen with your preschooler. Try this great Pumpkin Pie recipe provided by King Arthur Flour.

Make The Night Before Thanksgiving Preschool Game Educational

To make this Indoor Preschool Game an Educational Game, focus on the reading aspect. Go through the list with your preschooler and have them sound out the words. Pass on a few facts about pumpkins while you’re at it, such as “Pumpkins are a type of squash.”

Make The Night Before Thanksgiving More Creative

Spend some one-on-one time with your preschooler before Thanksgiving and make up some flashcards of the items on your list. You can stamp and color the pictures while talking about your Thanksgiving traditions. You could paint or draw the pictures together. You could even steam the labels off of old or duplicate containers if you have them, and then let your preschooler glue them to the flashcards. Try to use a heavy-weight paper for your flashcard base, like cardstock or construction paper, so your preschooler will have an easier time handling them. If you enjoy crafting with your preschooler, visit Preschool Crafts and Holiday Preschool Crafts.

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