5 Thanksgiving break playdate ideas for kids 

When school is out for Thanksgiving break, playdates are on. Fill the time off with friends at a style camp where kids can design their own slippers, or at a cat sanctuary where they'll be able to play with 106 rescued felines. Here are five ideas:

DIY a cozy pair of slippers 

Begin your playdate by designing and decorating a "look" for your sneakers or slippers during a My Style Camp workshop. Owner Stacey Saltzman and her design team help kids create a sketch that syncs with their footwear style. Based on those drawings, kids decorate their favorite pairs of slippers and sneakers with gems, drip art, initials, ribbons and art markers.

Sea Cliff's Mireya Chan, 8, who recently participated in the workshop, says, "I think it could be fun with a playdate because you could bring your own sneakers and switch them with your friend. Then, you both design sneakers and at the end of the workshop, you give the sneakers back to each other."

During Thanksgiving break, schedule a playdate workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 ($150); Nov. 29, 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m. ($90).

Enjoy a day of spa treatments

Your feet might appreciate a kid-friendly pedicure at WowMoms World Long Island in Mineola. The salon features a special $15 pedicure area for kids aged 2 to 12. "Each child puts on a robe and kids sit together on a long, comfy couch," says owner Sabrina Potemkin. "They soak their feet in sea salt, then their legs, feet and toes get a massage and are covered with lotion. After that, we apply organic nail polish." The polishes come in vibrant colors, like red and silver for Christmas or blue and silver for Hannukah. The polish is quick-dry and the whole process lasts 20 minutes. 

Visit a cat sanctuary 

Take a tour of The Patricia H. Ladew Cat Sanctuary in Oyster Bay. It’s a Victorian-style house inhabited by rescued cats. Each room resembles a human home with a catlike twist. The outdoor "catios" (patios for cats) have wooden swings, tunnels and a drawbridge. Inside the house, there’s a cat living room, kitchen, formal dining room, recreation room and a cat clinic.

"The idea for the sanctuary began with the original owner, Patricia Ladew, who loved cats," explains Susan Whittred, executive director. "People dropped their cats off on Patricia’s property in Center Island, but when the pitter-patter of little feet reached 100, she had to do something about it." In 1975, Ladew purchased the current house in Oyster Bay and created the cat sanctuary.

An open house is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. on Nov. 29, where guests can take a tour, make a catnip toy craft, take selfies, use a scorecard to count the cats, do a scavenger hunt and try to identify Jagger the cat, whose meow sounds like a foghorn. Visitors are welcome throughout the year by appointment only; most cats are available for adoption.

Make chocolate creations in holiday shapes 

Shape chocolate with a clay-like consistency into holiday treats. Christina Bisbee, owner and pastry chef at The Chocolate Duck in Farmingdale, has been a Food Network competitor on "Cake Wars." For a chocolate playdate, she recommends picking up a pack of melting chocolate ($5.99 per pound) for at-home modeling. Melt 16 ounces of chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup of light corn syrup and mix until combined. The chocolate should never be too hot, just warm to the touch. Pour the mixture onto plastic wrap and flatten it. Wait about 30 minutes. You’ll have chocolate "clay" you can mold and sculpt into anything from snowmen to Santas. Share your chocolate creations with those you are grateful for.

Play video games with friends 

If you’re thankful for friends from near and far, here’s a way to bring them all together for one big playdate. Arrange for the Game Truck Long Island to pull up in front of your house. Each 60-foot-long truck can accommodate up to 20 kids ($499 for two hours. It’s best to arrange for a truck at least three days in advance).

The walls inside the truck are covered with screens. "We have Play Station, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. We have over 100 games in our library and we’re constantly updating with the newest games that come out," says sales representative Sam Hutchason. 

Staff coaches set up the games, supervise and play along with the kids. Parents often chip in and divide up the cost of the truck. Hutchason explains, "I get calls from moms who say their kids are home from school and they’re looking for a way to entertain them. They usually invite the kids next door and school friends."