How to Involve Children in Thanksgiving Day Traditions

Holiday family traditions are a wonderful way to connect with your children. The business that comes along with the season often causes us to miss opportunities to create meaningful experiences with our children. It may seem easier to just do it all ourselves, but we lose out on truly making Thanksgiving a family affair. Use these ideas to create Thanksgiving traditions that include everyone.

A big part of Thanksgiving Day celebration is food. Let the kids help cook. This may seem like a crazy thing to do with everything that must be done. Instead of having the kids in the kitchen Thanksgiving day, try to include them in tasks that can be done ahead of time. Let little ones wash up veggies. Teach an older child to make Grandma's apple pie. Teenagers could be allowed to come up with their own side dish to make. They will beam with pride at being able to share their contribution at the table.

Children can, also, help decorate and prepare the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Even a preschool aged child can help set the table with napkins and flatware. Let the kids get creative. They could make place markers or create a menu. Children can make a beautiful, but simple centerpiece. Have them place bits of nature such as leaves, acorns, and pine cones on a platter or in a bowl. Let them decorate the table with other art, such as pilgrims, indians, and hand turkeys.

Chances are there are friends and relatives filling your house at Thanksgiving. Some of these people you may only get to see at the holidays. Encourage your kids to get to them, especially if this is one one of the few times they get to build memories with Grandma. Let kids interview adults about what it was like when they were growing up. This will help spark other conversations and create a bond between the adult and child. Board games played together are another great icebreaker that easily gets multiple generations involved. Don't miss this opportunity for your kids to connect with extended family members and friends.

Thanksgiving, of course, is the perfect time to remember all that we have to be thankful. Take the time to include some type of activity each Thanksgiving. Maybe everyone can share what they are thankful for aloud around the table. Create a Thanksgiving scrapbook, every year let family and guests add what they were thankful for in the past year. Have everyone create a hand-turkey, and write something you are thankful for on each feather. Take time to allow everyone give praise during a special prayer.

Use these ideas to find what works for your family. Don't schedule so much that it becomes stressful and overwhelming. Pick a couple traditions that appeal to your family and implement them. Use this opportunity to connect with your children and truly include them in the celebration. Including your children in the yearly activities around Thanksgiving has many benefits. Don't miss out on them.