Top 5 Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Thanksgiving

Sandwiched between Halloween costumes and Christmas trees, Thanksgiving Day can get lost in the bustle of the holiday season. Kids especially tend to neglect it because without the lure of sweet treats or pretty presents, Thanksgiving can be hard to find exciting.

So how do you get your kids involved in Thanksgiving? Let them in on the action with these hands-on ideas from Celebrations.com writer Karen Perkins. They will feel special and learn about the importance of the day in the process.

1. Volunteer in the Community – It is important to teach kids that Thanksgiving is about more than eating turkey, watching a parade and cheering on favorite teams. It is about showing appreciation for the people and things around them. Volunteering is a great way to do this and give back to your community.
2. Cook Thanksgiving Dinner – As you go about preparing your Thanksgiving feast, let kids assist you in the kitchen. The dishes may take longer to prepare and may turn out less than perfect, but think about how proud your children will be to see others enjoying food they took part in making. Choose a traditional dish–or find a new one–that is simple and kid-friendly.
3. Make a Thanksgiving Craft – For an easy way to get kids involved in Thanksgiving, let them do an art project that teaches about the holiday. As an added bonus, have the finished pieces play a starring role in Thanksgiving Day activities. Some ideas: greeting cards expressing thanks or festive place mats for the table.
4. Write a Thanksgiving Prayer – Having kids write their own prayer allows them to think about the meaning of the holiday. Using examples of common Thanksgiving prayers, encourage children to identify people and things they are thankful for in their own special way. Done sincerely, the result creates a sweet memory at the family dinner table, one that you can repeat year after year.
5. Perform a Thanksgiving Skit – Kids love being the center of attention, so let them be the main attraction at your family Thanksgiving. A few weeks before, go over the story of the first Thanksgiving, help kids come up a short skit to perform and give them plenty of time to practice for the big debut.

For more Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids, check out Celebrations.com!