Six Ideas for Fun Family Time This Thanksgiving
If there was ever a year to create new family Thanksgiving traditions, 2020 is it. While you may be tempted to attend or host a large gathering like in past years, it’s better to skip the festivities this year and try again in 2021.
For now, we have some suggestions on how you can celebrate safely at home with your immediate family and keep your older relatives and extended friends and family healthy too!
Include your kids!
Kids love to be part of the conversation and planning, especially when activities involve them. By including your children in your holiday planning and giving them choices, it solidifies their importance in the family unit while also providing them with a sense of control and independence, which is important to developing healthy personalities. Good guidance is to not give them too many choices (limit to two – three) and don’t knowingly give them a false choice, which means letting them choose something that can’t be granted.
Here are some questions to ask your children to start the planning process:
What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?
What do you like to eat on Thanksgiving?
Who do you like to spend time with the most during time off from school?
What are some outside activities we can do as a family?
What are some inside activities that we can do as a family?
What chores can you help with to make the house look nice for the holiday?
Once your children have helped you brainstorm fun things to do next week, you can narrow the ideas down for them to choose from and have them help you create a calendar that keeps you all on track.
To help get the family creative brainstorm started, we’ve rounded up some terrific suggestions below that work for all age groups.
6 ideas for Thanksgiving family fun:
Cook together! But before you start cooking, create a plan with your kiddos that includes your menu for the week, what ingredients you need, and even a trip to the store. Don’t forget to incorporate some of their favorite foods from your brainstorm session. Then, let them help you in the kitchen. Little hands make great sous chefs: they can scrub vegetables, carefully chop vegetables with adult supervision, break eggs, spread butter, icing and other toppings. Plus, they can help clean up! Here’s some recipes and tips to get started.
Plan outdoor activities: Discover a local trail, plan a Thanksgiving Day-themed scavenger hunt like this easy-to-understand one from SimplyWellBalanced.com, rake leaves and other yardwork, collect rocks and leaves for autumn-themed craft ideas.
Schedule virtual family time: Just because you can’t visit your favorite aunt or be at grandma’s in person doesn’t mean you can’t connect with them during the holiday. Arrange a time for a ZOOM, Skype, FaceTime (or whatever resource is at yours and your loved one’s disposal!) where you and your family can share some time together. Be sure to have a dry run to work out any kinks beforehand, which can be important to do with friends and family who may not be tech savvy. Also, you can make it a little extra fun by encouraging everyone to dress up or wear their favorite costume for the video call. Another idea is to send a care package that includes some homemade decorations and/or sweet treats made by your family, and that you have at your home as well. Then enjoy them together during your call!
Get crafty: Most likely you have everything you need at home for a variety of fun, creative, and possibly even messy activities. We captured some fall-inspired artsy ideas earlier in the year or check out these ideas from Good Housekeeping for other possibilities.
Be thankful: During the most challenging times it can be difficult to “count your blessings” which makes it all the more important to recognize the things that have brought your joy and feel you with gratitude. Share what you’re thankful for – the big and the small -- with your children, and then have them share as well. Make it into a larger activity you will remember by having them write down what they are thankful for on these cute printable leaf cutouts.
Rest: Let’s be honest, we all need a little respite. Be sure to schedule it too, and make a plan! Rest can include snuggle time while watching some favorite family movies, or reading or listening to a book together, or maybe just “resting your eyes” as a family.
