From peeling potatoes to decorating the table, there are plenty of ways children can help prepare a Thanksgiving meal.
With a turkey to roast, potatoes to mash, a pie to bake and guests arriving within hours, what parent has the energy to entertain kids on Thanksgiving day? But getting your kids involved in Thanksgiving preparations is easier — and more rewarding — than you might think.
“They get more excited for the holiday,” says Debbie Madson, head chef at the Web site www.kids-cooking-activities.com and mom of three. “We work together in what we will eat, who we will invite and how to decorate. I find having them help me in the kitchen has a great benefit in that they will try new things if I take the time to involve them.”
From peeling potatoes to decorating the table — there’s plenty of ways to get your kids involved. It’s easy to forget that you’re not just putting a grand meal on the table; your goal is to create a family atmosphere, with traditions that your children will remember. So instead of hurrying through the process this year, take a deep breath and let Thanksgiving take a new, family oriented, direction.
“Involve them in the menu planning, deciding who to invite and let them help decorate and prep food,” suggests Madson, who lives in Dulles, Va. “They are great helpers in making pies, preparing side dishes or vegetable platters.”
With a little guidance from parents, even young kids can help with dinner preparations.
“Thanksgiving dinner is something they aren’t usually able to help with considering cooking dinner is centered around the stove and lots of hot dishes,” Madson says.
Little ones are good at peeling carrots or cucumbers, arranging pre-cut vegetables into a vegetable platter or mashing potatoes. For children under age 5, Madson recommends letting them create a centerpiece or place mat.
“This may require a little help from an adult, but can also be done days before the actual feast,” she says.
Anything that can be poked makes a great turkey decoration. Decorated toothpicks, skewers or popsicle sticks can be stuck into anything from Styrofoam, pumpkins or any fruit or vegetable to create a turkey masterpiece.
Madson’s Web site lists several child-friendly activities and recipes, including a Fruit Loop apple turkey (a simple apple turns into a centerpiece using cereal, toothpicks and mini-marshmallows), pilgrim hats (made with store-bought cookies, marshmallows and chocolate chips) and mini Indian-corn cakes made with cake mix and candies. All of these projects are simple, can be done a day or more in advance, and make kids feel part of the celebration.
Coming up with fun, new traditions is also something kids love. Sometimes, the sillier the better.
“At our house, we like to make pilgrim or feather headbands to wear during dinner,” Madson says. “They get to decide which role they are going to play. A little goofy but kids love it.”
Kathy Buckley, of West Friendship, mother of Christopher, 12, and Emily, 9, doesn’t have a big crowd at Thanksgiving, but she still likes to get the kids involved in the preparations. It makes a more festive occasion, she says.
“My kids like measuring the ingredients, but most of all they like to lick the spoons and spatulas from cooking the yummy desserts,” Buckley says.
Christopher and Emily help set the table and make table decorations and place mats. One year, Emily punched out paper shapes in different colors and sprinkled them like confetti around the centerpieces.
Another way these kids help is by entertaining their grandfather while he waits for dinner. “They may play a card game with him or give him a concert with the instruments they both play,” Buckley says. It not only frees her up for cooking, it helps them feel closer to their grandfather.
“I enjoy entertaining my pop-pop,” says Emily. “I usually play the violin, piano and flute for him.”
When there’s a bigger holiday crowd at the Buckley home, the children help plan games for the family to play — charades, guessing hidden identities and board games.
Thanksgiving projects don’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. Sometimes, simple is better. Busy Bee Lifestyle’s Web site www.busybeelifestyle.com/fun-family-ideas-for-thanksgiving-activities-for-kids/ includes ideas to keep kids busy. One idea is to cover the table with brown paper and let the kids (and the adults) decorate it. This saves money and creates a one-of-a-kind table covering.
Another idea from The Busy Bee Lifestyle site is to cut feathers out of construction paper, have the children interview each other and the adults to find out what they are most thankful for and inscribe the feathers with each item of thankfulness. At the table, share what’s written on the feathers.
And what about the messes that are inevitable if the kids are helping in the kitchen? Madson makes sure there is always a towel and a broom nearby. The motto at her house is, “It is okay to make a mess, but we have to help in the cleaning too.”
And on the age-old question of whether to have a kids’ table or not? Madson and Buckley agree that both types of seating have their advantages, but in the end families must do what’s right for them.
“Growing up, we always had a kids table… I had a good time with cousins and siblings,” Madson says. “I also think it is great to have kids and adults sit together because it is an opportunity for kids to practice their manners and learn from adults. In my own house, it is easier for me to have the kids sit with the adults so I can help them when needed.”
And once dinner is over, there’s nothing more fun than making a wish with a turkey wishbone. Having a wishbone for every family member is now an option with realistic wishbones available by the dozen at luckybreakwishbone.com.