Thanksgiving is one of the most highly anticipated holidays of the year. With it comes high expectations to orchestrate a near-perfect day. Beginning with an expertly baked turkey, and ending with a Martha Stewart-worthy pumpkin pie, the pressure is enough to keep even the most relaxed hosts on their toes.
With a bit of pre-planning and creativity, you can definitely improve your chances of pulling off a kid-friendly Thanksgiving celebration that is enjoyed by all. We’ve got some ideas to help you get the kids involved in everything from the menu to the tablescape! Implementing some of these recommendations will definitely help to create a kid-friendly Thanksgiving experience.
Here are 10 helpful hints that will guide you to a perfectly pleasant and kid-friendly Thanksgiving Day!
Tip # 1. Rest before the big event
This tip definitely applies to the adult members of the family. There’s no doubt they will need an endless amount of energy leading up to the big event. That said, for the purpose of ensuring a kid-friendly Thanksgiving celebration with zero meltdowns, make sure little ones get in their naps before the festivities begin. Here are some tips for ensuring you all are rested before and after the Thanksgiving holiday to make for an enjoyable time whether you are hosting or are a guest:
If you are hosting:
If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your home, this is easy enough. Simply plan for your guests to arrive after your children have had their naps. Be upfront with your guests if you need to end at a certain time so the kids can get to bed. Planning on staying up late with your guests? Don’t schedule anything too early for the day after Thanksgiving!
If you are a guest:
If you are a guest for Thanksgiving, have your kids nap in the car if you have a lengthy drive to your destination. This will help keep the crankiness to a minimum and ensure a kid-friendly Thanksgiving experience (not to mention, an adult-friendly Thanksgiving too because your kids will be refreshed and happy). Don’t forget about getting them to bed at a decent time—we want everyone to enjoy the day after Thanksgiving too! Pack pajamas and toothbrushes (and pull-ups or diapers) so you can get the kids ready for bed before you head home.
Want more holiday sleep advice? We have tips for how to sleep well during holiday travel!
Tip #2. Get some energy out!
If your Thanksgiving event isn’t until later in the day, it’s a good idea to let the kids burn some energy prior. They are probably excited about the holiday, seeing their cousins and family members, and having some kid-friendly Thanksgiving fun. So they may be a bit more energetic than usual.
We recommend getting outside (weather permitting) and running around or participating in a Turkey Trot! Most cities and towns have these sorts of walking and running events. Turkey Trots usually involve a short run or walk with the purpose to raise money for charity! It’s a great way to get the wiggles out, start your holiday with some exercise (so you can enjoy ALL the food), and do it all for a good cause.
Don’t have a Turkey Trot in your area? Plan your own! Coordinate with neighbors or other family members or just get outside and go for a walk with your family. Need help finding a Turkey Trot near you? Check this list out!
Tip #3. Involve kids in the cooking process
Make the celebration more exciting for little ones by involving them in the planning and execution of Thanksgiving events; a sure way to have a kid-friendly Thanksgiving day. The more they feel like an integral part of the festivities, the more likely they are to feel a sense of pride. This will hopefully have a direct correlation to good behavior!
Let kids participate in simple cooking tasks, such as helping to mash the potatoes, roll the pie dough or decorate cookies. Using a crockpot or slow cooker for one of your Thanksgiving dishes? Get the kids involved in the prep work! Assign them a dessert or an appetizer like Oreo turkey cookies or a turkey cheeseball!.
Ultimately, when they participate in the cooking and meal prep, they’ll get to be a part of the experience resulting in grateful, happy, and hopefully well-behaved kiddos.
Tip #4. Let kids help set the table
Kids can do easy but helpful age-appropriate tasks that make them feel involved which can also lessen the burden of the host. Kids can contribute by helping set the table and by placing Thanksgiving decor. Even younger children can get involved by helping to set up simpler aspects of the table. They can lay out the placemats or napkins so that they feel just as included.
PS: Believe it or not, the kids can definitely help with the pre-Thanksgiving cleaning and chores too! Have them wipe down the counters, clean their rooms, sweep the front porch, and set out the fall decorations! Here’s a list of things you can teach your kids to clean so you don’t have to.
Tip #5. Create a table for the kids
Depending on the tone that you are trying to set for your kid-friendly Thanksgiving meal, Thanksgiving may or may not be conducive to energetic children and their very short attention spans. We all know how challenging it can be to sit and eat in peace with little ones!
An easy and fun solution is to set up a kid’s table for the younger guests! Kids will love that they get to sit without the grown-ups in their own space. This will keep them seated for longer as they won’t be as antsy to leave the table. This means you might get to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal just a bit longer.
Related articles:
- 6 Family Traditions to Implement this Thanksgiving
- Three Effective Ways to Instill Gratitude in Your Children
- BabyQuip Baby Gear Rentals: How to Get Started
Tip #6. Decorate the kid table with festive accents
Now that you have decided on a kid table, why not make it festive and fun? Use plenty of eye candy to grab the kids’ attention. Thanksgiving-themed paper plates, paper turkey centerpieces, and even interactive centerpieces such as a “thankful tree” that they can decorate will work well. Check out these kid-friendly Thanksgiving table decorations for inspiration.
You could also include a fun tabletop activity to keep them entertained such as coloring pages with kid-friendly Thanksgiving themes. Or, cover the entire table in brown craft paper and put crayons and markers on the table so they can color their hearts out! For the older kiddos, have them write what they are thankful for.
Tip #7. Create a kid-friendly feast
After all of the hard work preparing the Thanksgiving feast, the question becomes whether it will be well received by the pickiest of eaters! Certain staple sides such as mac ‘n cheese and mashed potatoes as well as delicious desserts are generally surefire wins. The key to success is to let the kids be active in the creation of the Thanksgiving menu.
Let them make a few suggestions and incorporate those items into the meal. Little ones will also be dazzled by any food that has a fun element to it, or a decorative flair. Scroll through cookbooks or the internet to find fun and festive spins on the classics such as: “ice cream” mashed potatoes, “pumpkin pie” cream cheese appetizer, or graham cracker “turkeys”. Create a whole menu of kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes that are just as fun to look at, as they are to eat! PS: You’ll love them too.
And while most of your Thanksgiving feast will be pretty kid-friendly and baby-approved (hint: whipped cream and sweet potatoes), you may want to plan a few kid-specific menu items to ensure everyone has enough kid-friendly Thanksgiving food to eat (especially those picky eaters). Here are some ideas we like and make sure to add your ideas in the comments below:
- Babybel Cheese Turkeys
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- In the Kids Kitchen – Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Menu
- The Bump’s 7 Toddler-Approved Eats for Thanksgiving
Tip #8. Keep kids busy before, during, and after with crafts!
You’ll likely be pretty busy hosting, cooking, or enjoying adult time with your family, and while you’ll want to spend time with the kids too, you may also want to keep them busy with activities. While kids can help with all of the Thanksgiving prep, they’ll probably get bored of that after a while. So instead of hearing, “Mom, I’m bored. When is everyone getting here?” or “When are we leaving?”, why not plan some fun, kid-friendly Thanksgiving activities for them to do while you’re getting ready?
These activities can be continued during the “pre-Thanksgiving feast gathering” and during the “post-Thanksgiving food coma” so you can relax on the couch.
PRO TIP: Make sure to provide enough supplies for all the kids in the family if you have little guests attending. Here are some awesome ideas that are easy, convenient, fun, and sure to keep them entertained:
- Country Living 36 Easy DIY Thanksgiving Crafts
- Good Housekeeping 42 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
- The Spruce Crafts 19 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers and Elementary Kids
- My Bored Toddler Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers
Tip #9. Express gratitude
Give thanks to family and friends! This is a good opportunity for children to learn about gratitude and to express simple thanks to family members, siblings, and friends for even the smallest things. It will warm everyone’s heart when they give thanks for their favorite toy, trips to the park, and bedtime stories. What more could you ask for?!
Tip #10. Be gracious towards those less fortunate
On that note, continue these life lessons beyond Thanksgiving and consider donating after the holiday is over! With many people across America suffering from food insecurity, Thanksgiving is a good time to consider helping those less fortunate than ourselves.
Food banks are a great place to donate non-perishable, shelf-stable, and healthy food. If you find yourselves with an overabundance of holiday leftovers, contact your local food bank or food charity service. Find out which ones accept donations of cooked food. Have your kids accompany you to donate the food or even volunteer at a food distribution center to help feed those in need. These are great life lessons to instill at a young age.
Want to go above and beyond? Why not schedule a volunteer trip on Thanksgiving morning to your local homeless shelter or church? Many organizations offer free, warm meals to families in need on the morning of Thanksgiving and they are often in need of volunteers. It is a wonderful way to show gratitude and help others; that said, this is best suited for older kids.
We hope this has helped ease some of your pre-Thanksgiving anxiety! After all, the holidays are meant to be enjoyed. Don’t get wrapped up in perfection. Your kids, your guests, and your family will enjoy Thanksgiving no matter what.
Do you have some helpful kid-approved and kid-friendly Thanksgiving hacks? Comment below!
Jennifer O’Neill is an Independent Quality Provider with BabyQuip, helping families travel lighter and happier. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys working out, spending time with family and friends and of course, traveling.
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