Thanksgiving is a time for family. It is a time for family members from all over to unite for a single meal. Of course that meal takes time to prepare. And during this time the kids in the family may want to distract themselves with something fun to do. Luckily, there are some great thanksgiving movies that entertain children and teach them a few things about the meaning of Thanksgiving as well.

There is a legendary Peanuts gang story for every occasion and Thanksgiving is no different.  A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is an Emmy award winning special that tells the story of Thanksgiving with the Peanuts gang.  This time, Charlie Brown is in charge of Thanksgiving dinner.  A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a classic Thanksgiving tradition that has been enjoyed by children since 1973.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season so Miracle on 34^th Street on Thanksgiving will get the children into the holiday spirit. There are several versions of this movie but the classic is still the best. The original was released in 1947 and starred Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Glynn. The story takes place at Macy’s during the Macy’s day parade on Thanksgiving. Of course, the kids may enjoy the up to date version starring Elizabeth Perkins and Mara Wilson.

Mouse on the Mayflower is another classic movie that tells the story of the smallest passenger on the Mayflower, a small mouse that is a witness to history. The movie is a good way to entertain children while preparing Thanksgiving dinner and at the same time teach them a little about the History of Thanksgiving. Originally released in 1968, the animation is outdated, but the story is still a classic and can be shared of kids of all ages.

Who doesn’t love Winnie the Pooh? And Seasons of Giving is a classic pooh tale with a good moral: gratefulness. Winnie the Pooh and his friends hunt Hundred Acre Wood to find the best ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner. The movie ends at Christmas when the group of friends learn that they should be grateful for what they all have and for each other. A good lesson any time of year.

Released in 1990 and tells the story of an immigrant family that settles in Baltimore. The family seeks to live the American Dream. The story is told through the eyes of the family’s patriarch and tells a story of the importance of family in good times and in bad. Much of the movie centers around Thanksgiving and its meaning.