The holidays are a magical time that brings together loved ones and a little chaos. Between the pie-making and travel plans, it can be easy to forget what we’re gathering to celebrate. This Thanksgiving, let’s not just carve the turkey, but also carve out some time for mindful traditions the whole family can enjoy. From sharing what you’re thankful for to hosting a family Thanksgiving talent show, this year is the perfect chance to create new traditions that deepen connections and spark laughter. Get ready to gobble up the fun together. GATHER FOR GRATITUDE Thanksgiving is all about honoring what we are grateful for in life, and it can be a fun activity for you and your children to share. You can gamify gratitude in several ways, like creating a thankfulness jar where everybody adds slips of paper describing what they most appreciate. You can take turns reading them after dinner and even make a guessing game out of who wrote what. It could be as simple as gathering around the table for breakfast and everyone saying one thing they’re grateful for. TURKEY DAY TRIVIA There’s no better way to digest after the big Thanksgiving feast than having fun. Pick out some of your favorite board games or a deck of cards for a post-meal game night. You could test everyone’s knowledge with a holiday-themed trivia competition or create a scavenger hunt around the house. No matter the game, ensure everyone from grandparents to kids can join in. Keep it focused on connection, not just winning. If you want to go all out, challenge all your guests to be ready with their best skills for a family talent show. A SOUNDTRACK TO THE STUFFING Create a perfect soundtrack you can play while everyone helps with the cooking or winds down after dessert. Before the big day, ask everyone in the family to add one or two songs to a Thanksgiving playlist. Whisking Up New Traditions This Thanksgiving FILL YOUR HOLIDAY WITH GRATITUDE AND GAMES
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CHRISTINE EARLE What’s your must-have Thanksgiving dish? Butternut squash. What’s a tradition your family never skips? We watch “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” the night before
Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving evening, we kick off the Christmas season with “Home Alone” 1 and 2. What are you most thankful for this year? My family. Who’s the best cook in your family? When we celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, it’s my brother Bob. When my parents were alive, it was my mom. However, we all bring desserts, and most of my family are wonderful cooks. What’s your post-dinner ritual: nap, football, or leftovers? The day after Thanksgiving is Hot Turkey Sandwiches! BECKY JORDAN What’s your must-have Thanksgiving
dish? Cornbread stuffing! But it must be made from scratch with
our family’s secret cornbread recipe (which has now been passed down to multiple generations) and lots of love. What’s a tradition your family never skips? Listening to “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie. What are you most thankful for this year? Having a wonderful and supportive family and group of friends. Who’s the best cook in your family? Everyone in my family is a great cook; we all have our specialties. But overall, I’d have to say my husband can cook anything! What’s your post-dinner ritual: nap, football, or leftovers? Watching all of the Thanksgiving episodes of “Bob’s Burgers” and taking all the needed naps. DAWN EVANS What’s your must-have
Thanksgiving dish? Mine would be my green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce that I make. What’s a tradition your family never skips? Eating as a family and decorating after Thanksgiving as a family.
Prompt them to pick tunes that remind them of the season, happy memories, the joys of being together, or even their favorite dishes. You can keep adding to this list in subsequent years, turning the songs into a playable family history.
What are you most thankful for this year? My family and health. Who’s the best cook in your family? I would say my husband (although some of us have dishes we specialize in). What’s your post-dinner ritual: nap, football, or leftovers? Eating leftovers and pulling out Christmas decorations to start decorating.
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