TEACHING CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF THANKSGIVING AND HOW TO INVOLVE THEM IN THANKSGIVING PREP

Gratitude is one of the most beautiful emotions we can experience as human beings. And Thanksgiving gives us the perfect opportunity to teach our children all about this wonderful sentiment.

Thanksgiving is a time of rousing family gatherings, indulgent feasting, and abundant joy. But it’s also a time to be thankful for our blessings and reflect on what we are grateful for. At a time when we're all feeling thankful, it's worth remembering that gratitude is just as important for kids.

As our future generation, our children should be taught the significance of this holiday. From thedatingmaven, your go-to for best kids’ fashion clothes, here are our top tips to get your child involved in Thanksgiving and understand its importance in our lives.

This delightful video is perfect for your little one to learn the story of Thanksgiving:  

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THANKSGIVING?

Thanksgiving celebrates a time when the Pilgrims and the Native Americans were able to work together, share their food, and celebrate each other's cultures. Here’s why it’s essential to pass on the Thanksgiving sentiment and emotions to your little sweetheart.

•  Teaching your toddler the importance of Thanksgiving can help them develop a healthy and well-balanced understanding of life. It enables them to be more appreciative and thankful for what they have.
• Thanksgiving is a celebration that shows appreciation and gratitude to all who have helped us in our lives. It helps your kid understand how important it is to thank people for their services or talents.
• Talking about Thanksgiving can create an opportunity for parents to communicate with their child about their own heritage, as well as the cultural heritage that we share as Americans.
• Research has shown the benefits of gratitude on our emotional wellbeing, our mental health, and even our physical health. During trying times like these, gratitude is especially important for boosting the mental health of our children.
• A recent study revealed that gratitude is linked to happiness in children by age 5. Thus, talking about Thanksgiving and instilling gratitude in our little ones at an early age can help them grow up to be happier adults.
• Grateful children tend to be happier and more optimistic. They also have greater social support and higher satisfaction with family, friends, school, and their community, and are more likely to provide support to others.

This exceptional article talks in more detail about why it’s important to teach our children about Thanksgiving:

https://thedatingmaven.com/family-resources/thanksgiving-a-time-for-family

INVOLVING YOUR CHILD IN THANKSGIVING PREP

Want to know a practical way to teach your toddler the importance of Thanksgiving? Just get them involved in some fun Thanksgiving prep!

Having your child be an active participant in the whole process will make the holiday more meaningful, while boosting their self-esteem and reinforcing their connection to family.

After all, this day’s more than just sitting back and eating turkey and pie, are we right? Here are a few simple yet highly effective ideas to get your little darling involved in Thanksgiving prep.

OH, WHAT SHALL WE EAT!

Food! It’s one of the key elements of Thanksgiving, and planning it is half the fun.

Let your child help decide what dishes to include in the meal, and prepare a shopping list of ingredients and supplies together. If they’re old enough, they can even choose a special dish to prepare on their own! At the grocery store, assign them a list of items to find. This is a great way to give kids a sense of pride and ownership in the meal planning.

Here are some incredibly easy Thanksgiving recipes that you and your kid can make together:

https://thedatingmaven.com/food/top-thanksgiving-recipes-kids-can-help-make-8-great-ideas/

LITTLE CHEFS MAKE THE BEST HELPERS!

Kiddos of all ages can help out with the cooking! Messing about in the kitchen when it’s abuzz with Thanksgiving preparations is the ultimate kiddie fun activity. And being allowed to help does wonders for their confidence and independence.

Young children can mash potatoes, wash veggies, or just help by handing mommy her pots and pans.  Older kids can measure out ingredients, set timers, read out recipes, or baste the turkey.

This excellent article tells you more how you can get your child involved in everyday meal prep:

https://thedatingmaven.com/how-to-get-your-kids-cooking-meal-prep/

A BEAUTIFUL TABLE WHETS THE APPETITE!

We all love our Thanksgiving-themed table décor, don’t we? And this is where your toddler can let their imagination run free. Setting a table is a great skill for children to learn, and it also helps them feel more invested in the holiday.

Instruct your little one about basic table settings and dining etiquette. Let them choose the silverware and glassware to be used, along with favorite napkins which they can fold into fun shapes! They can also create creative centrepieces and place cards for the guests.

Check out this cool video for some awesome Thanksgiving table décor ideas for kids:

MAY I TAKE YOUR COAT PLEASE?

Little kids adore playing host or hostess. So why not give them this fun duty for the holiday?

Being a gracious host is an excellent life skill that your child will need down the road. Your little one will enjoy feeling very grown-up and important as they answer the door, offer to take coats, and show guests into the living room. Let them help in passing around beverages and appetizers too! It’s a fantastic way for children to work on their social skills in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Here's a great article that talks about how to prepare kids for holiday guests:

https://thedatingmaven.com/prepare-your-child-for-holiday-guests/

DOESN’T IT LOOK PRETTY!

What’s the one job that doesn’t really feel like a job to most kids? It’s decorating!

Decorating duties are a superb way to involve your little one in Thanksgiving prep while nurturing their creative and artistic skills too. Colorful leaves, flowers and twigs collected from the garden can be turned into pretty window clings or leaf garlands. Handprint paper turkeys can be strung together and hung up to make delightful Thanksgiving-themed streamers and wreaths. Give your little one free rein and watch them glow in the shower of compliments from the family!

For some innovative Thanksgiving craft ideas, check out our previous blog on thedatingmaven:

https://thedatingmaven.com/blogs/news/fun-and-easy-thanksgiving-craft-ideas-for-kids

We have so much to be thankful for every day. And teaching our children to appreciate these blessings along with us makes them doubly precious. Over the years, these lessons in gratitude and appreciation will become part of your family’s Thanksgiving rituals, memories to be cherished and treasured.

Speaking of rituals, don’t forget to check out thedatingmaven’s exclusive blog on new Thanksgiving traditions you can start this year with your family!

https://thedatingmaven.com/blogs/news/thanksgiving-family-traditions-to-start-this-year

As we share the warmth of Thanksgiving and thankfulness with our loved ones, we can be assured that we are teaching our children to grow up with gratitude and happiness.

From thedatingmaven, your favorite toddler clothes online boutique, we wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving – from our hearts to yours.

Sending love from Be Kind blogs. Happy reading.