Today, I am sharing one of our family’s FAVORITE traditions, a Thanksgiving Turkey shoot game for kids. If you are looking for a fun idea to get your kids out of the house so you can finish cooking, this nerf gun turkey shoot IS IT!!!
I am pretty sure my kiddos love our annual turkey shoot even more than they do the Thanksgiving meal, if you can believe it!
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Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot for the Kids
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What is a Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot???
Well over 10 years ago my girlfriend Sarah shared that her family does a turkey shoot game on Thanksgiving day with her kiddos.
This idea sounded like so much fun that we have been continuing the tradition with our family ever since. Before you get worried… No turkeys are harmed in this turkey shoot!
Our Thanksgiving tradition is a fun AND safe kids game that uses Nerf guns, nerf bow and arrows and paper and decoy turkeys for our shooting turkey game on Thanksgiving.
Supplies Needed for a Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot Game
- Turkey Decoys
- Paper Turkey Decorations to Hang
- Nerf Guns or Nerf Bows and Arrows
- Candy or Inexpensive Toy Prizes
Instructions for How to Host a Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot Game
We were really fortunate to find a REAL decoy turkey this summer at an Amish thrift store in Ohio.
I am pretty sure everyone shopping in the store that day was wondering why a nine year old girl and her mom were SO excited to find a giant plastic turkey!!!
In past years, I would go to the dollar store & find a bunch of turkey centerpieces or turkey window posters…
The kind that I probably never put on my table or on my window, Ha!
We usually set up about 7 or 8 turkey shoot stations to keep the kids AND adults moving for our Thanksgiving turkey shoot game.
One year Jason hung a turkey on his back & rode the tractor around our yard with my mom chasing after him with a nerf bow and arrow.
My brothers, sisters AND I haven’t laughed that much in a long time!
My sister still has a video of it but I am pretty sure my mom would kill me if I posted that on the blog.
While the bird is cooking in the oven the kids & adults use their Nerf bow and arrows along with nerf guns to shoot the turkeys.
The person with the most turkeys shot gets to pick the first prize from a bunch of inexpensive dollar store or candy prizes.
We usually keep score on a kids chalkboard.
This nerf gun Thanksgiving turkey shoot really is fun!!!
It also gives the kids something to look forward to and most importantly keeps them busy and active while they are waiting on Thanksgiving dinner.
In years of bad weather we bring the turkey shoot inside.
Despite the bad weather the kids still have a blast!
Although, between you and I…. it is MUCH easier when the turkey shoot is outside!
I hope this inspires you to start a Thanksgiving turkey shoot with your family if you are looking for a fun Thanksgiving game to keep your kids active and busy on Thanksgiving!
Family traditions are so much fun
Do you have any thanksgiving traditions or kids games and traditions to share?
by Tara Lehman
Don’t forget to save and pin our family’s fun tradition Thanksgiving turkey nerf shooting game on Pinterest!
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