Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends cook, eat and take a moment to be thankful. As parents, we know all too well that serving that Thanksgiving meal requires a great deal of preparation and sometimes a bit of stress. From grocery shopping and meal preparation to travel and spending time with extended family, the holidays can add a new layer of stress to our already busy lives. That makes it important to think ahead and prepare your kids for all the holidays have to offer. Below are a few ways to make sure your kids get the most out of this special time with friends and family.
Preparing for Thanksgiving may require a few trips to the supermarket. Take time to include your little one in your chores. Turn shopping into a scavenger hunt by asking your child to find specific items with you and then check them off the grocery list together. Ask your little one to find shapes throughout the store and count out the apples for that apple pie recipe.
No matter how prepared you are, sometimes toddlers just lose it. Here are a few tips to help you handle a public temper tantrum: Public Displays of Disaster: What to Do When Your Child Loses It Outside the Home
Thanksgiving gatherings may include new and unfamiliar people, so help your little ones anticipate the occasion by preparing them. Our resource, Parenting Strategies to Help Children Meet New People, can help.
Young children thrive on routine and seem to especially enjoy participating in family rituals. Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to introduce your little ones to family traditions! Find some guidance in That Was Then: Sharing Family Traditions With Your Grandchildren
Of course, Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and grateful. For little ones, developing an ability to be thankful starts with being able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. These ideas will help that process along: How to Help Your Child Develop Empathy Building a sense of gratitude starts in the toddler years. These tips can help: Nurturing Gratitude
Will your child have a chance to see cousins? Here are a few tips to help them play nice.
It’s never too early to share the true story of Thanksgiving. Learn more about the roots of this holiday – and celebrating diverse Native American cultures – here: Rethinking Columbus Day and Thanksgiving.
However you’ll spend the holiday, all of us at ZERO TO THREE wish you and yours a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
