Thanksgiving Tips November 2021

 Although some of these suggestions are duplicated, it’s good to see which ones both articles fell are important – plus each one gives a slightly different take on each item.

 

Meaningful and fun family Thanksgiving traditions you can start this year Nicole Fabian-Weber 10/16/20,

In “Care.Com”

Turkey, football and the Macy’s Day Parade may be Thanksgiving go-tos, but the holiday can have so much more depth when you incorporate some truly unique family Thanksgiving traditions that will stick with people for years to come.

“Thanksgiving should be made up of rituals and customs we all remember forever,” says Jordan Stringfellow, owner of Jordi & CO Events, a Los Angeles-based event planning company that also specializes in seasonal decor and holiday table settings. “Passing on family traditions to our children and sharing them with a table full of blended friends and family is one of the most satisfying things a parent can do.”

Looking to add fun Thanksgiving traditions to your family’s holiday repertoire? Here are 10 meaningful and creative ideas the whole family will cherish.

Pass around a journal

A favorite Thanksgiving tradition I learned from a client was ‘pass the journal,’” says Stringfellow. “Simply pass a blank journal around the Thanksgiving table, asking all the guests to write at least one thing that they are thankful for. For kids too young to write, have an adult transcribe. Over the years, fill the book with comments and enjoy reading them aloud at Thanksgiving celebrations to come. It is truly wonderful to read how gratitude reflections change over time.”

Volunteer

One of the best Thanksgiving traditions for families? Volunteering together! Thanksgiving is a great time to give back to your community and help those in need — and it’s one of the richest customs you can incorporate into your family’s holiday. How and where you choose to volunteer depends on the age of your children, but there are tons of ways to give back — simply research local volunteer opportunities in your area.

“Whether you work at a local soup kitchen, volunteer to serve a church supper [or even run a Turkey Trot, which typically benefits a local charity], the rewards are great and wide-reaching for labors that are easily performed,” says Stringfellow.

Kick off the holiday season

These days, the December holiday season kicks off the second the last bite of pumpkin pie is eaten. Don’t try to fight it. Embrace it.

“Every year, my sister gets matching Christmas pajamas for all the kids, and they all get them on Thanksgiving night,” says Jaclyn Santos, of Hazlet, New Jersey. “It’s so much fun. They all take baths and showers together, put on their jammies and usually have a disco-style dance party for the adults.”

Personalize the table

Sure, there are a zillion Pinterest images of stunning Thanksgiving tablescapes, but instead of having everything just so on Thanksgiving, aim to mix it up — literally.

“Some of the most beautiful Thanksgiving tables I’ve seen bring family stories to life by mixing and matching dishes, napkins and serving trays,” says Stringfellow. “Instead of reaching for the fancy china set, choose pieces with history — and be sure to tell stories about where you were when you collected it, who gave it to you and why it’s special. Even a chipped china plate can be reused with love and laughter as you share how that chip occurred and why that person, perhaps no longer alive or nearby, brought joy to your lives and hearts.”

Additionally, don’t worry about fancy Etsy-bought place cards. Instead, have the kids put their beloved art skills to good use.

“Making homemade place cards is something everyone can enjoy — and it makes the table that much more special,” says Stringfellow. “Have kids trace and cut out leaves or collect pinecones from the back yard and turn them into place cards. Even the act of collecting items for the table will make a myriad of memories to share!”

Have a special breakfast

While, yes, dinner is the meal on Thanksgiving, why not have a special breakfast, too?

“Every Thanksgiving morning, we sit down to a family breakfast of homemade pancakes,” says Denise Mackey, of Rochester, New York. “We didn’t mean for this to turn into a tradition, but over the years, it’s seemed to happen! It sets a nice pace for the day — as opposed to our usual mornings, which are spent running around!”

Go for a morning family walk

Sure, a rosy-cheeked morning walk is good for working up an appetite for the much-anticipated smorgasbord, but also… it’s just a nice way to connect to nature and to each other. It’s the perfect beginning to a busy — and often stressful! — day.

Give kids an important job they do each year

Serving Thanksgiving dessert? Making coffee? Setting the table? Help kids feel like an important part of the festivities by giving them “their” job each year.

“When I was younger, my mom would always let my brother and I set the table on Thanksgiving,” says Kristen Gallo, of New York. “I’m not sure how great it came out, but I remember feeling so proud when all the grownups would make a fuss over how nice the table looked.”

Have a table toast

Let’s not forget what the most important part of Thanksgiving is: being thankful. If passing around a journal feels a little too formal for your family, have a roundtable toast.

“Asking each guest to raise their glass — even if it’s a sippy cup full of milk — and make a toast about what they’re thankful for is a great way to start Thanksgiving dinner,” says Stringfellow. “Also, while it’s touching, don’t be surprised if elicits big time laughs!”

Leave room at the table

Whether it’s due to location or strained relationships, fact is, not everyone has a place at a Thanksgiving table. Do your part to change that in whatever small way you can.

“What’s the point of a beautiful Thanksgiving table and delicious food if you can’t share in it?” says Stringfellow. “Extend an invitation to an elderly neighbor whose family can’t visit or a coworker who’s far from home — and if they opt to stay home, take them a plate.”

If doing the latter, though, Stringfellow advises towing a sensitivity line.

“It’s important to be sensitive to the recipient,” Stringfellow says. “You don’t want to insult them or make them feel like they’re the object of charity. Sometimes this is best done by simply leaving the gift at the door and ringing the bell.”

Play a thankful game

Turn everyone’s gratitude into a little friendly competition with a “thankful game.” It’s a family Thanksgiving game, posted on Reddit, that has everyone writing down what they’re thankful for on a piece of paper, putting it in a jar and then having everyone guess whose is whose.

Sure to get everyone cracking up? You bet. Now that’s something to be thankful for.

 

Family Thanksgiving Traditions to Start This Year - Kaitlin Crehan in Family Education. Updated: 11/11/20

Your Thanksgiving Day doesn't need to be centered around food and football only. Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family. Here are five family Thanksgiving traditions you can start this year that your kids will want to carry on for years to come.

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 Family taking selfie at Thanksgiving dinner table

While Thanksgiving Day may focus on food and football, I am determined to give it more meaning in my life. Now that I’m married and have my own family, I love the idea of creating traditions that we can do as a family starting at Thanksgiving time. Here are some ideas for fun, relaxing and educational traditions you can start with your family this year.

 

More ways to Give Thanks This Thanksgiving

Volunteer

Before my husband and I even had a child, we always believed in the power of giving back during the holiday season. It’s a value we both share and want to pass on to our children. While it’s important to spread the love all year long, this time of year is especially difficult for some. You never know what someone is going through and how you could help.

Here are some ideas for volunteer work you can do as a family on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season:

Go to a soup kitchen and help serve a meal. While you’re there, spend some time getting to know the people.  This can be a great lesson in gratitude for children of all ages.

Build hygiene kits to hand out to the homeless so they have necessary toiletries and snacks to get them through the next few weeks. It’s an excellent opportunity to teach your kids about giving back and a lesson in the importance of proper hygiene.

Go to the grocery store and let your kids pick out canned goods to be donated. You can also have your kids help clean out the pantry and bring a donation to your local food bank. You can visit Feeding America to find a local food bank near you.

Decorate shoe boxes and fill them with little games to deliver to kids at local hospitals. Not all kids are able to spend the holidays with their family if they are sick and in the hospital. Building kits with your kids will teach them in valuable lesson.

Participate in a Turkey Trot

Participate in a Turkey Trot or go for a walk together as a family on Thanksgiving morning

For as long as I can remember, my family has always started Thanksgiving morning on an active note. My dad and I would join friends and hundreds of others at our town’s yearly 5k Turkey Trot. It was a great way to jumpstart a day focused on food, and there is always such a positive and happy energy buzzing around these races. Everyone is looking to break a sweat and enjoy each other’s company and even the spectators are eager to cheer you on. You definitely do not have to be a runner to join in on the fun, there is always an option to walk. Get the little ones involved and sign them up for the kids’ fun run. Or have the kids create signs to cheer on their mom, dad or relatives who might be running.

Create a new family recipe

While the Thanksgiving staples will always remain, it’s nice to create a recipe that you can carry on as a tradition and make every year. Without fail our Thanksgiving recipe that will never change and will be present on the table every year is a cranberry apple crisp. My mom started making it when I was a young kid, and I don’t remember a Thanksgiving without it. Now that I am an adult, I have spent a few Thanksgivings away from my immediate family and I have made sure that our cranberry apple crisp has made it on the buffet line. I hope to continue the tradition of the cranberry apple crisp with my kids or create a new recipe with them, so when they are old enough, they can look forward to it and make it with their families.

Here are some ideas for recipes you can incorporate into your Thanksgiving spread this year and carry on as a family tradition:

Share what you are thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner

We live in an age where there is no shortage of bad news everywhere we look. Use Thanksgiving as a day to focus on the positive things in your life and to appreciate all the things we have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving dinner is a great time to go around the table and have everyone share what they are most thankful for. It is always fun to hear everyone’s different answers, and it may even get your shy child talking and participating!

Spend quality time together on Black Friday

I’ve never been one to partake in the craziness of Black Friday. Rather than indulge in the Black Friday Shopping, spend it with each other. Spend the day cuddled up on the couch watching your favorite movies, stay in your pajamas all day or play your favorite games. Get out of the house and go to a movie. Go for a family hike if the weather permits; we always loved going for a hike the day after Thanksgiving. If you are celebrating Christmas, go cut down a tree as a family and spend the day decorating for the upcoming holiday.

 

About the author Kaitlin Crehan is a mama, health coach, and area Manager at Arbonne.

 

Awesome Thanksgiving Activities for You and Your Family by: Erin Dower in “Family Education”

Looking for a fun way to spend Thanksgiving Day, or want to start some meaningful Turkey Day traditions? This mix of kid-friendly indoor and outdoor activities will bring your family closer together in the true spirit of the holiday.

Watch the Parade

Looking for something to do first thing on Thanksgiving Day? This is an old standard. Families have enjoyed watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV since 1948 (and the parade was first held in 1924). Watching giant balloons, floats and marching bands roll through the streets of New York City with your kids is a cozy and magical way to start the holiday. Make it even more fun by printing out our Thanksgiving parade bingo game!

Thanksgiving Parade Bingo

 

An example of a things that can be included on a Thanksgiving Bingo card.  For fun candy corn can be used to mark the squares on the card.

 

 

Run a Turkey Trot

Everyone in your family can work up an appetite for your Turkey Day feast with a good turkey trot. The added bonus? Most turkey trots donate registration fees to good causes.

Get a Football Game Going

If you have a house full of football fans, it might be tough to pry their eyes from the TV on Thanksgiving Day. But striking up a family game of touch football (or any of these kid-friendly backyard games. 

Research Your Family Tree/A Genealogical Treasure Hunt

What better time is there to help your kids learn their family history than Thanksgiving? With their grandparents and other older relatives around, children can dive into their genealogy and fill in this printable family tree.

Are you curious about your ancestors? Exploring your family history can take some work, but with a little digging, you can uncover a goldmine of information. Try these tips to help uncover information and interesting facts about your family tree.

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

Thanksgiving revolves around three activities: eating a large meal, watching football, and shopping on Black Friday. It doesn't take much for the true meaning of Thanksgiving to get lost in the mix of what seems like a never-ending To Do list of holiday preparation. Take a few moments to ponder what you're truly thankful for and ask yourself how you can volunteer your time and help others.

One admirable way to spend Thanksgiving Day is serving food to less-fortunate families at a soup kitchen, church or community center. If you can't help on the holiday itself, look into ways your family can pitch in beforehand, like collecting and sorting donated food or baking Thanksgiving pies.

Have a Mini Pumpkin Hunt

Another fun group activity that's perfect for toddlers on up is a mini pumpkin hunt. It's one of our favorite pumpkin-themed activities. You can hide one or more mini pumpkins, indoors or outside, and let the family loose — like an Easter egg hunt with an autumn twist. One other idea is to play "Fill the Cornucopia," asking kids to find all sorts of hidden items — apples, dried corn, and small gourds — to fill a cornucopia or basket on the Thanksgiving table.

Play a Board Game

A little friendly competition helps families bond on Thanksgiving — as long as everyone is a good sport! Pick from these 10 classic board games and play multiple rounds — or even a few different games — before crowning this year's family board-game champion.

Video Chat with Faraway Relatives

Online chatting on a tablet or computer allows families to connect from across the country, and even around the world. If you have a loved one or two who are too far away to visit on Thanksgiving, chatting over Skype or another video-chatting service will make their day. (A good ol' phone call is still nice, too!)

Arts and Crafts

We know the possible scene at your house: Mom is busy cranking out a feast in the kitchen. Dad is watching football. The kids are bored or cranky or running wild with their cousins. Set the youngsters up with some simple craft materials, or — even easier yet — break out the crayons and print out some holiday coloring pages to keep them entertained until turkey time.

 

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids, Preschoolers Family Education. Keep the kids entertained and thankful this giving season with these creative craft and activity ideas for Thanksgiving.

Help Out the Hosts

It's never too early to teach kids how to lend a hand to the holiday dinner hosts (even if it's Mom and Dad)! Children can help with everything from setting and decorating the table to mashing potatoes — and entertaining older guests, too. Everyone will admire how polite your little helpers are!

Give Thanks in Your Own Special Way

This is really what it's all about: Giving thanks for family, friends, the holiday feast, and other good fortune. Relatives and guests can give thanks for something verbally at the dinner table, write and exchange Thanksgiving thank-you cards, or find another unique way to give thanks. Showing gratitude in some way will help children learn about the true spirit of Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!

There's plenty to do besides food and football on Thanksgiving. Keep the whole family entertained (and out of the kitchen) with any one of these activities!