Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to teach your children about gratitude and enjoying one of the least materialistic holidays. While there is no candy given out or gifts to unwrap at Thanksgiving, you can find ways for your kids to look forward to the holiday. Make time between Halloween and Christmas to teach your children to appreciate their blessings. Use Thanksgiving to let your kids see the fun in an attitude of gratitude.
Step 1
Teach children the story of Thanksgiving. Find books at the library or online about the Pilgrims and Indians and how they set aside a day for giving praise to God by feasting together.
Step 2
Create traditions for your child. Make a box full of blessings written by everyone attending your meal or make a family blessings journal. Each year, read the blessings of the last year in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Use this holiday to show your children the good in their lives.
Step 3
Before Thanksgiving, help your children by practicing how to count blessings. Kids often do not know what to be thankful for until you give them examples. Talk about blessings before the stress of the day. Give examples a child can be grateful for such as a favorite toy, food or memory.
Step 4
Teach kids what Thanksgiving is NOT. It is not just a day off from work and school to watch football, overeat and start Christmas shopping.
Step 5
Make Thanksgiving crafts with your child to decorate for the holiday. These crafts can also be a chance to reinforce the meaning of the holiday. Iconic images of the holiday include Pilgrims, the Mayflower ship, Native Americans, turkeys and cornucopias.
Step 6
Talk about foods eaten at the first Thanksgiving and involve your kids in recipe selection for your meal. Let the kids cook and prepare parts of the big meal.
Step 7
Find someone less fortunate and teach children to be grateful on Thanksgiving by inviting those who may be in need over for dinner, such as a widow or a neighbor who lives alone.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure your children know that Thanksgiving is a time to get in the habit of year-round gratitude for blessings. You can also use Thanksgiving to improve children's table manners. Before the meal, go over table etiquette and the proper way to set a table.
- Set a good example of making Thanksgiving a priority so your children continue to value its significance. Your attitude toward Thanksgiving will impact how your child celebrates the holiday.
