After the Thanksgiving dinner, it will be a good plan to have some lively games for the whole family. Otherwise it’s more than likely that you’ll get into some mischief, at least, the boys will. So here are some games which you’ll all enjoy:

First of all, suppose you try “It.” This is just as foolish as it sounds, but it makes a great deal of fun for all. Choose some person for “It.” He must leave the room, and when he comes in again, must do his best to make the others laugh. They, on their part, try their best not to, for the first who laughs becomes “It.” So the unfortunate “It” dresses up in some queer style and tries to win a smile from his audience, while they watch him very gravely. It is discouraging, indeed.

Suddenly there will be a titter, a giggle and then a burst of laughter from every one, and whoever starts the laughter must change places with “It.”

Next try “Telegrams.” This calls for pencils and paper. Give each player eight letters of the alphabet. From these letters he must arrange a telegram, each word of which must begin with the given letter. For instance, if the letters “S F M B H S A P” are given, the telegram may be, “Send for mother. Billy has swallowed a pin.”

Dumb Crambo is a good game for older people as well as young folks. Divide the company into two groups and let each choose a captain. One group must remain in the room, while the other goes out. The inside group decide on a word of one syllable which can be acted. Perhaps they choose “chat.” Then they tell the others that the word rhymes with “bat.” The second group tries to guess the word, but must act out their guesses in pantomime. They may try “hat” or “mat,” but not until they have acted “chat” will the others applaud them. Then the groups change places and the second group becomes audience.

“Spin the Platter” is a lively game for Thanksgiving afternoon. The players must draw up their chairs in a circle, and each must have a number, odd numbers for the boys and even numbers for the girls. One child stands in the center and spins a wooden plate or tray, calling at the same time a number. The one whose number is called jumps up and tries to catch the platter before it has stopped spinning, and if he fails to do this he must pay a forfeit.

Other games which you will enjoy playing on Thanksgiving afternoon will be found in the chapter on “Additional Games.”

So Thanksgiving afternoon, which you children are apt to find rather long, will pass very pleasantly, indeed.