3 Lessons Thanksgiving Can Teach Your Children

As the end of November approaches, we find ourselves in the holiday season. The next few months will provide plenty of opportunities to engage our kids in family and community celebrations. As parents and caregivers, we can use the many social engagements that surround the holidays as ways to teach our kids some important lessons. What a great opportunity to encourage some valuable skills and habits! Below are 3 ways you can use the Thanksgiving holiday to help your child's social and emotional development.

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Self-Esteem: I can help!

Whether your family is hosting guests for Thanksgiving dinner or dining away, allowing your little one to help with the preparations will boost her self-esteem and include her in the celebration. Pinterest has many fall craft ideas that younger kids can do with parental supervision. (Check out our “Thanksgiving Ideas” board). Use these creative projects (like handprint turkeys, paper strip pumpkins, or woven placemats) to decorate your home for the holiday. You can also give her a job with the food preparations. Consider a snack mix that she could stir together. Put out options like popcorn, pretzels, raisins, dried cranberries, Bugles (shaped like a cornucopia), candy corn, and small cereal along with a one cup measuring scoop so she can combine the treats into one large bowl of yummy Thanksgiving snack mix. Making a treat for all to enjoy will increase her sense of independence and allow the two of you to share some time together in the kitchen.

Social Skills: I can be gracious.

Entertaining others in your home allows your children to participate in hosting company, while celebrating at another’s home provides an opportunity for your child to practice being a gracious guest. Consider showing him the correct way to set the table (find a printable template on our “Thanksgiving Ideas” Pinterest board). This is also the perfect time to reinforce proper table manners such as asking instead of reaching, staying seated during the meal, choosing just right bites of food, and always complimenting the chef! If you are dining away, encourage your child to be a gracious guest. Saying hello to everyone, being careful with others’ belongings, and politely saying “no, thank you” when offered something he doesn’t want will show others he is kind and caring and also reinforce social skills that will serve him well throughout life.

Contentment: I can be thankful.

Regardless of where we celebrate this holiday, Thanksgiving reminds us to count our blessings. One clever way to keep help your child appreciate what he has is to put out an interactive “I am thankful for…” table runner and markers while waiting for the meal (again, check out our Pinterest board “Thanksgiving Ideas” for directions). Use simple craft paper and crayons, and if this becomes a yearly tradition, you can use a fabric runner and special fabric markers (available at most craft stores). Spread the runner across the table and while waiting for dinner to arrive, ask everyone - or just the children - to record the things they’re thankful for. Remembering your family’s many blessings may also allow you as a family to approach the upcoming Christmas season with more contented hearts.

We hope you find these simple strategies helpful for engaging your young children in the holiday season this year. Happy Thanksgiving from the Urban Child Institute!