Almost every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions that are celebrated each year.
You may not even realize how special it is when you wake up early to start cooking, turn on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or prepare a big breakfast. But these little moments can be big for your family. They create memories that will last a lifetime.
When thinking about the theme of the holiday, gratitude should really be at the center of most of those traditions.
That’s especially true when you have a child. It’s important to pass on traditions that teach them thoughtfulness, not just the ones that promote indulgence.
So, what thoughtful gestures can you teach your child this Thanksgiving that can build into yearly traditions?
Remember Those Who Can’t Be with You
Thanksgiving is a time to be with your family and the people you love. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. Many people have to celebrate holidays after the death of a loved one or without the presence of someone who lives far away.
One way to teach your child more thoughtfulness during this holiday is to remember those people. You can create a tradition by sharing a story with your child about that person or making their favorite Thanksgiving dish, and use it as a way to remember them.
Little gestures like these teach your children the importance of remembering and honoring the people who can’t be there. It’s something they’ll continue to take with them even as they get older.
Create a Gratitude Tree
Since Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, why not turn the theme of the day into something fun and memorable for your child. Creating a gratitude tree is a great way to do that.
You can “build” your tree any way you’d like. The basics are simple: you’ll need a vase, some stones, a small branch, some ribbons, and construction paper. You can help your child ahead of time by cutting out leaf shapes from the paper.
To make the tree, fill the vase up with stones and stick the branch in the middle. Then sit down with your child and have them write different things they’re thankful for on the leaves. Each leaf will have its own piece of gratitude that can be hung on the “tree” with a ribbon. You can even make a few yourself, to show your child how important it is to be grateful.
Pass Down a Recipe
Traditions are timeless. You can choose to start one or continue one.
Since the second most important thing about Thanksgiving is the food, you can incorporate thoughtful traditions into the day easily by passing down an old family recipe to your children. Cooking together is a great way to connect, especially on a holiday surrounded by food.
Getting your child(ren) to make a family recipe with you does so much more than teach them how to cook. It’s a time to share stories, talk about your family history, and where that recipe came from. You can even share stories from your own childhood and why that recipe is so important to you.
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The holidays are a great time to develop new traditions or continue existing ones that mean something to you. Teaching thoughtful gestures to your child this time of year can create lasting habits that make them more grateful all year long.
If you want more information on developing these habits or more tips on teaching gratitude to your child, please feel free to contact me. Together, we can talk about gestures that can have a positive, lasting impact on your child for years to come.
