4 Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy on Thanksgiving

November 27, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Enlist Older Cousins & Siblings As Babysitters

Enlist Older Cousins & Siblings As Babysitters

Photo by: BabyZone

Enlist Older Cousins & Siblings As Babysitters

Have a tween niece or nephew eager to get started in the babysitting business? Consider hiring them for a trial run on Thanksgiving. Treat it the same as you would a real babysitting gig: set ground rules, suggest some activities, and pay a fair rate. It's really a win-win. The babysitter-in-training can earn experience while still knowing that you're in the kitchen if the going gets rough. You will know your toddler is occupied and being watched, but you can still duck your head around the corner to check in. Built-in babysitters on the guest list. Now that's something to be thankful for!

For me, Thanksgiving means 12 hours or more of non-stop cooking and baking. And I love every minute... keeping the kids busy while I'm taking care of such toddler un-friendly tasks as deciding what to do with turkey giblets and preventing the boiling stockpot of potatoes from bubbling over can be tricky. Are you juggling Turkey Day meal prep with taking care of your toddler? Here are some fun and easy (and mom-tested--by me!) ways to keep little ones occupied and happy this Thanksgiving.
-By Jacqueline Tourville

MORE ON BABYZONE
14 Thanksgiving-inspired baby names
Keep little hands occupied with these gratitude crafts
13 adorable outfits for baby's first Thanksgiving

Yahoo Sports
WNBA Draft winners and losers: As you may have guessed, the Fever did pretty well. The Liberty? Perhaps not
Here are five franchises who stood out, for better or for worse.
4d ago
Yahoo News
Trump trial updates: Jury selection finished, man sets himself on fire outside courthouse
Five more alternate jurors were selected Friday following questioning from prosecution and defense lawyers, rounding out the 12 jurors and six alternates needed for the case against Trump to proceed.
46m ago
Yahoo Sports
Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, infamous for trading wives with a teammate, dies at 82
Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died at the age of 82. He is probably best known exchanging wives with teammate Mike Kekich in the 1970s.
5d ago
Yahoo Sports
Boban Marjanović hilariously misses free throws on purpose to give Clippers fans free chicken
Boban Marjanović is a man of the people.
5d ago
Yahoo Sports
Robert Kraft reportedly warned Falcons owner Arthur Blank not to trust Bill Belichick during head coach interviews
Bill Belichick's former boss Robert Kraft reportedly tanked his chances of getting hired as the Falcons head coach.
2d ago
Yahoo Sports
Jaromír Jágr scores in first game since turning 52, passes Gordie Howe as oldest professional hockey player
Jágr began his NHL career in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
4h ago
Yahoo Sports
NBA playoffs: Predictions for Knicks-Sixers, Nuggets-Lakers and every first-round series
Our NBA experts make their predictions for every first-round series in the playoffs.
4h ago
Yahoo Sports
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: A little something for every lineup in our latest pickups
Fantasy baseball analyst Andy Behrens offers up a series of pickups to assist every manager, starting with a duo of Rockies ahead of a Colorado homestand.
4h ago
Yahoo Sports
UFC 300: 'We're probably gonna get sued' after Arman Tsarukyan appeared to punch fan during walkout
'We'll deal with that Monday,' Dana White said about Arman Tsarukyan appearing to punch a fan during his UFC 300 walkout.
5d ago
Yahoo Sports
Nike responds to backlash over Team USA track kits, notes athletes can wear shorts
The new female track uniform looked noticeably skimpy at the bottom in one picture, which social media seized upon.
6d ago

News

Life

Entertainment

Finance

Sports

New on Yahoo

4 Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy on Thanksgiving

Enlist Older Cousins & Siblings As Babysitters

Recommended Stories

WNBA Draft winners and losers: As you may have guessed, the Fever did pretty well. The Liberty? Perhaps not

Trump trial updates: Jury selection finished, man sets himself on fire outside courthouse

Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson, infamous for trading wives with a teammate, dies at 82

Boban Marjanović hilariously misses free throws on purpose to give Clippers fans free chicken

Robert Kraft reportedly warned Falcons owner Arthur Blank not to trust Bill Belichick during head coach interviews

Jaromír Jágr scores in first game since turning 52, passes Gordie Howe as oldest professional hockey player

NBA playoffs: Predictions for Knicks-Sixers, Nuggets-Lakers and every first-round series

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: A little something for every lineup in our latest pickups

UFC 300: 'We're probably gonna get sued' after Arman Tsarukyan appeared to punch fan during walkout

Nike responds to backlash over Team USA track kits, notes athletes can wear shorts