It's About Time
Getting Kids Involved in Thanksgiving Traditions
It’s Thanksgiving: The perfect holiday to teach kids the importance of family and giving. Get kids involved in your holiday celebration by letting them prepare a dish, set the table or greet guests as they arrive for dinner.
Adults can also teach youth the spirit of Thanksgiving by participating in activities before the big day.
Create a Thanksgiving basket
Teach kids how to give by creating a Thanksgiving basket and giving it to a family in need. Sit down with the young person in your life and have them make a list of items they would like to include in the basket. Visit a local supermarket and shop for the items on your list together. Neatly arrange the food in the basket and deliver it to a family of choice. Visit your local places of worship, community center or shelter for a list of families in need or needed items.
Volunteer your time
You can also teach kids how to give by volunteering to serve dinner to people in need. Most community centers and places of worship will serve dinners to the community during the Thanksgiving holiday. Check your local newspaper for notices on volunteer opportunities. This activity is great for tweens and teens.
Make Thanksgiving placemats
Make it a party! Invite younger neighborhood kids over and provide them with construction paper, pens, markers and crayons. Let them be creative and design as many Thanksgiving placemats as they can. Encourage them to draw scenes from the first Thanksgiving dinner and write special messages. Gather the kids together and have them deliver the placemats to a food shelter, community center or senior facility.
