Easy Kid Thanksgiving Party Outside (for Last Minute Moms!)

This year we hosted a last minute outside Halloween party for our neighborhood pod and it was so much fun. I’ve decided last minute – again – to host an easy kid Thanksgiving party outside too!

As a working from home mom it often takes extra effort to create boundaries between work and family. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned that last minute family fun is better then no fun things at all.

Not only that, but we live in the south which means fall weather is awesome! If you live somewhere northern and cold I’m so sorry.

I love doing kid parties outside because kids really get to be kids.

They get to let lose, run around and use their imaginations. They get to use their big outside voices.

Also great about outside kid parties is that moms get time to relax and hang out with other moms.

But maybe the best part about an outside kid party is that you don’t have to clean up inside your house!

Lets get planning your last minute kids Thanksgiving Party outside!

Why Host a Kid Thanksgiving Party?

On December 31, this year is going to end. Your family is going to have a bucket of memories when they reflect on the year.

Gosh darn some of those memories from this year should be of fun! 

Even if its just the same three neighborhood families that you spend most of your weekend time playing with add a few festive extras and turn a Saturday playdate into a party!

• During Zoom conference calls turn off the video and fill snack bags with treats.
• Print out some age appropriate crafts and games from Pinterest.
• Order a giant pizza.

Brush off you tailgate folding chairs and enjoy the giggles and happy sounds of kids making awesome childhood memories.

How to Host a Last Minute Kids Party

The most important part about hosting a kid party isn’t the food, games or activities.

And its not cleaning your house either since the party is outside!

Nope.

The most important part of hosting a last minute kids Thanksgiving party is actually inviting the kids to come!

My FAVORITE way to make a cute invites that I can TEXT to the Mom Pod in our neighborhood is with Canva.

If you’ve never used it Canva is a FREE super easy to use web based graphics program. It has lots of FREE templates for people like me who are graphics challenged.

I usually make my Canva invites on my laptop then hop onto Canva’s phone app to download it and text.

This is a sample I made using one of their FREE pre-made templates. Click on it to make one for your party!

You can always go more simple and just sent a normal group text or email.

But until you invite people you aren’t really having a party!

Kid’s Outside Thanksgiving Party Food

Now that you’ve gotten the invite out of the way its time to start thinking about the good stuff, food!

This is a kid’s party so don’t skip the sweets!

I recommend starting party snack planning by taking a look at what’s in your pantry.

That open bag of pretzels? Microwave popcorn? Both work!

My daughter’s favorite snack mix is when I mix up M&M’s, Teddy Grahams and mini marshmallows for kid’s version of S’mores!

I love to serve snacks at kid parties in little baggies.

The kids can grab the little bags and you don’t have to worry about them putting their hands into a bowl.

These little bags offer the just right amount of sweets for little kids.

You can also go with a healthy option in party cups. Individual portions of raisins and baby carrots are always a hit at our house.

Pre-cut apple slices with caramel candies are a fun idea for snack cups too

I found the snack cups in the picture above at Hobby Lobby, but Amazon has lots of options too.

If you click on the polka dot snack cup below you’ll see lots of Amazon choices.

For our last minute Halloween party we invited the kids for lunch and had a huge pizza delivered.

If you choose lunch time for your outside kid Thanksgiving Party go with something really easy for the main dish like Pizza or a platter from Chick-Fil-A.

Don’t make a homemade meal! You’ll thank me later I promise.

Activities for a Kid Thanksgiving Party Outside

Let me start by saying I am NOT crafty! My attempts at recreating crafts I see on Pinterest usually end up disasters.

But the great thing about kids is you don’t need fancy art supplies or complex games to keep them engaged. They love simple activities.

Hand Turkeys with Feathers

One of the easiest Thanksgiving crafts is to pull out the construction paper and trace hands, add a few feather with glue and send kids home with handprint turkeys.

Turkey Crafts Kids Can Eat

But of you want to do an easy craft that’s a more fun AND that kids can eat, my friend Kim at Thrifty Little Mom has instructions to make this a adorable edible turkey!

Free downloadable Thanksgiving Games and Art

I was chatting with Tonya at 24 Hour Family about my last minute Kid Thanksgiving party plans. She showed me her post with all these awesome FREE downloadable Thanksgiving activities.

I LOVE her candy game printable.

It’s the perfect way to use up all the leftover Halloween candy around your house! Check it out for yourself at the below.

If these activities don’t fit your crazy crew hope over to Pinterest.

After just a few minutes searching you can find tons of downloadable free printable options.

Conclusion

Give your kids a couple hours of memory making fun this Thanksgiving with these easy party planning tips.

• Invite Friends
• Add Snacks
• Set up a craft and/or game
• And put out a few simple themed decorations.

And then sit back and relax with a couple other moms, and maybe even a mom beverage, while the kids get to be kids in your yard.

I promise you will be thankful you did it.

Thankful to be reminded by the little people in your world how to have fun.

Thankful for the mom friends in your life.

And thankful that you made it through one more year in one piece.

So this November, before the holidays season gets into full swing, I challenge you to set aside a few hours to host an easy kid Thanksgiving Party outside. 

Because mom, you’ve done hard stuff this year – now its time for some family fun!

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