For the most part, Thanksgiving is a grown-up holiday. Adults love it because it centers around food, football and, in some families, naps. There are no gifts involved, no major decorations (unless you’re related to Martha Stewart) and, in many families, you’re serving up tried-and-true favorites so meal planning isn’t that hard. And, then you have kids. Everything changes…Thanksgiving and children under the age of eight can get a bit dicey. We’ve gathered a few Thanksgiving tips to help you survive they holiday and create some great memories. You can do this!
Pre-Thanksgiving:
- Have a Plan. Whether you are traveling or hosting Thanksgiving, involve the kids ahead of time. Go through recipe books and/or websites and take votes on side dishes. This is a great way to get picky eaters involved in the meal. Get them involved in preparing the dish and explain it to the guests on the big day. Unless food allergies are involved, let the kids get a bit crazy. Sweet potatoes baked with a crust of Frosted Flakes are delicious and surprisingly elegant.
- Consider Others. If it’s in your budget and your children are old enough, get involved with a local food bank or shelter to help provide a Thanksgiving (or just a regular) meal. Many places restrict kids under 16 to work in a food pantry or serving food so check first. If this is the case, set a budget, take your kids shopping and get a fun meal or a few days of meals and donate those.
- Play secret samaritan. Most communities have people and families in need. Get your kids involved in making a stealth grocery delivery to their house. An early morning/late night delivery of non-perishables gives your neighbor what they might need and protects their pride. This also a good chance to talk to your children about doing good things just because they’re good things, not because you want people to say “Oh what a good person you are!!!!”
- Shop as a family. Put one child in charge of the list, one in charge of organizing food in the cart. If you can, plan to pay with cash. Go the bank and get single dollar bills. For each item you put in the cart, show the kids how you are moving one bill from the have pile to the spent pile. Dollar bills are “real” to kids and to see them moving into the “gone” pile helps kids understand how quickly money goes and for what. A debit or credit card exchange does not have nearly the same impact.
Thanksgiving Day:
- Create a kids table. You have little people with undeveloped eating habits. Set up a kid table. Limited space? Set up a kid picnic blanket under the big people’s table. Including young children for Thanksgiving dinner guides them along the path of appreciation.
- Thanksgiving is a LONG day! If you are making pies in the morning, put on the parade and get your kids to help you use up leftover dough by making “pinchies” – little bits of pie dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar then baked and eaten quickly. Plan some Thanksgiving activities like our Thanksgiving Thankful Tree or Easy Gratitude Turkey and let them have fun.
- Get started on post-Thanksgiving decorations. Put the kids to work getting Christmas or Hanukkah decorations ready. Have them help start testing and sorting the lights, pull out seasonal candles and ornaments. Use judgment based on the ages of your children, this ‘busy’ work for them can add a lot more stress for you.
- Test your tupperware! Fill a container with 1 pint of heavy cream. Shut it. Duct tape any seams. Send your kids out to kick it around for a few hours – you can do this off and on. By the time dinner is ready, open the container and you have BUTTER!!!!!! Drain off the buttermilk and stick your butter on a plate. Make sure everyone in attendance understands exactly how the butter was made! Such fun albeit a tad risky.
- Get your kids tired before dinner! All of these Thanksgiving tips have a single goal, 30 minutes of adult enjoyment around the table without interruption. Set up the kids’ table with a paper tablecloth and skip the good china. In fact, if you want your children to sit through at least part of dinner, scatter the table with crayons, water-based markers and maybe even some sidewalk chalk.
- Be prepared for bedtime. If you are traveling, pack the kids pj’s before you leave. Depending where you are for dinner, you might be able to give them a quick bath, put them in their jammies and head home. Bath is optional.
- Be ready to leave. Sometimes, for reasons you may never know, a child will completely melt down. If the usual tricks do not diffuse the situation, it’s time to take your leave. Whether it’s family or friends, everyone will understand (and appreciate) you bowing out.
Remember, you’re creating memories and traditions that your child will one day cherish. Your child will not get rickets if he eats only mashed potatoes /gravy or even just a fistful of olives at Thanksgiving. The world will not end if you can’t get him to sit perfectly through-out the meal.Do your best to relax and enjoy. From our family to yours, best wishes for a safe and happy holiday!
