Thanksgiving is coming soon, and, as always, there are so many things you need to do. Guest lists, grocery lists, figuring out decor, etc. Instead of getting frazzled, why not let your kids help?
Kids will love helping you prepare for the big day and learn some things along the way. Things like reading a book about Thanksgiving to learn about the holiday's origins and to help get their hearts and minds in the right place. Helping you make the grocery list will teach them organization skills. Letting them help in the kitchen will teach them math skills and sanitation rules and help them grow fine motor skills.
There are many ways that kids young and older can get involved and help. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Ways Kids Can Help:
1. Decorate Their Table
Chances are, you will have the kids sit at their own table. Purchase a kids Thanksgiving activity paper tablecloth at Walmart and allow the kids to color it. Put another plastic tablecloth under the table to catch spills and drips to make things super easy. Then, roll it up and toss it in the garbage when done.
2. Make Table Decorations
There are lots of ideas online for Thanksgiving table decorations. Let your kids make a decoration for each place setting.
3. Make a Centerpiece
If your table is relatively small, look up centerpiece crafts and make two: one for the kids' table and one for the main table. Kids love making crafts and decorations.
4. Roll Those Rolls
If you have crescent rolls for dinner, spread the triangles on a baking sheet and let the kids roll them up. You can also have them help you put the dough in the pan if you are having traditional rolls. See who can roll them the fastest to make it even more fun.
5. Make Dessert
Let your little ones choose a no-bake dessert for the holiday, and have them help you make it. This way, they can learn something and have fun, but you don't have to worry about hot spills or burnt fingers.
6. Make a Gratitude List
Have your kids (both young and old) write a list of what they are thankful for and share it at the dinner table. It's easy for all of us to get caught up in what we don't have and not stop to pause and think about what we have and be thankful for it.
7. Break the Wishbone
Once you get the wishbone out, let your little one break it with you and make that wish.
8. Help in the Kitchen
Let them mash the potatoes, tear lettuce for the salad, or wash vegetables in a colander.
9. Decorate with Nature
Have your kids collect some items from nature to spruce up the table or make decorations with.
10. Make a Picture of the Mayflower
Find a large picture of the Mayflower online, print it off, and then head to your local Hobby Lobby in the Thanksgiving section. You should be able to find packs of foam stickers with pilgrims, Indians, etc. Let the kids color the picture of the Mayflower and add the stickers to it. Then hang them somewhere in your home.
11. Explore Flavor Profiles
Mix up your menu a little. Instead of plain old mashed potatoes, make ranch or cheese mashed potatoes. Make sweet potato toffee pie instead of pumpkin pie, or make pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crust instead of a traditional crust. Instead of plain old green bean casserole, make a cheesy mushroom green bean casserole. Look for variations of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes and have fun with it. Let your kids have fun picking some of these dishes.
12. Ingredient Scavenger Hunt
Get out all the ingredients you'll need for each recipe, minus the perishable ones. Then, give each of your kids a recipe and have them gather the exact ingredients needed to make each dish.
13. Grocery Shop Together
Take your kids with you when you shop for the Thanksgiving meal. For an extra special touch, go to a farmers' market to get the fresh produce you need for your meal. You will probably get some great buys while supporting your local agricultural community.
14. Read a Book
Several weeks before, read a book about the first Thanksgiving with your kids to teach them what this holiday is about. It's easy to get caught up in the food, football, and shopping chaos that revolve around this holiday and forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
15. After Dinner Entertainment
Have your kids tell the story of Thanksgiving, read from a book or in their own words, or let them act it out in a play after dinner.
16. Put Oder Kids in Charge
You can have them help watch the clock, so you know when it's time to check the bird. They can also help prepare side dishes or supervise the younger children in their tasks for the holiday.
Older kids can also help the younger ones do crafts to decorate for the holiday.
17. Let Kids Choose the Ambiance
From three months to a few weeks before the holiday, let your kids decide what decorations they want to make, recipes to cook, and ideas for music or color schemes to create a relaxing and enjoyable meal.
18. Set the Table
Let your kids set the table before dinner.
19. Make the Guest List
Sit down with your older kids and let them help you make the guest list.
20. Make the Grocery List
Sit down with your kids and let them help you make the grocery list.
21. Make Thanksgiving Invitations
Break out the construction paper, markers, glitter, glue, crayons, etc., and let your kids make invitations to Thanksgiving dinner and mail them a few weeks in advance.
22. Sous Chef
Let your older kids be your sous chefs by peeling potatoes, cutting up vegetables, and gathering ingredients from the pantry.
23. Clean Up
Let your older kids help clear the table when dinner is done. They can also help load leftovers into containers and wash the pots and pans.
24. Serve Others
Instead of celebrating with family on Thanksgiving, volunteer in a soup kitchen and serve those less fortunate.
25. Volunteer at a Food Pantry
This is another great way to volunteer to help others and instill in your kids gratitude for all they have.
Volunteering at a soup kitchen and a food pantry will open your child's eyes to how fortunate they are and instill a spirit of love, compassion, and empathy in them.
26. Donate Items
Have your kids go through their clothes, toys, books, movies, etc., and donate them to a local charity like a homeless shelter or a children's group home. These organizations will be thankful for the donations, and your kids will see that they are helping others, which should make them feel good. The residents will be thrilled and thankful for the new items.
27. Invite Your Guests Personally
Let your kids call each guest and ask them to come to dinner.
28. Take Leftovers to a Neighbor
If you have a neighbor who is elderly or lives alone, go with your kids and take them a plate of leftovers and a few pieces of dessert.
When I was an older teen and my aunt was alive, she always sent a plate of leftovers to one of my coworkers at my first job. Patty lived alone and had no family nearby, so we always took her a plate of Thanksgiving food and a few pieces of whatever desserts were on hand. She was always grateful for a home-cooked meal and that someone remembered her.
29. Write a Thanksgiving Blessing
Instead of your traditional grace before the meal, let your kids write their own version of grace to thank the Lord for all they have. If you have a mix of young and older kids, make it a group project where everyone adds a line to the prayer.
If you have an only child (depending on their age), sit down and help them write their prayer.
30. Assign "Outside of the Holiday" Chores
It's easy to forget to do the normal, everyday things when the holidays get crazy. Let your older children feed and walk your animals, do their own laundry, or load/unload the dishwasher. Make sure each one has an "assigned" job for the week of Thanksgiving so things don't get out of hand.
There are many ways in which your children can be involved in Thanksgiving. Sit down with your kids and decide how they want to take part. Maybe your nine-year-old will want to help in the kitchen while your five-year-old will want to make invitations. If possible, line up their contributions with their talents. They will be glad to get involved and make this the best Thanksgiving ever.
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