How to actually spend time together on Thanksgiving

What I love about Thanksgiving is the opportunity to actually slow down and connect. The irony? I have to work for that.

Thanksgiving as a time of connection doesn’t come easily. There’s planning to do, travel to make, family to accommodate. It’s easy to get caught up in the swirl and spend no actual time at all with your family.

So, how can you embrace Thanksgiving as a family? Here’s how I think about it. 

Get everyone in on the food

First and foremost, Thanksgiving is about the food, and I like to bring everyone in from the very first step—planning the menu.

Sure, you want to stick with tradition and the main aspects such as the turkey and pumpkin pie, but you could also try some investive side dishes, or get creative with pumpkin for a different sort of dessert. 

Food is the best way to bring people together, so why not have fun with it from the start?

Bust out the gratitude

If sharing is caring, then sharing the things that we are thankful for is a great way to feel the spirit of the holiday collectively. 

I like to get the kids involved with writing a letter of the things they are thankful for and sharing that with the family in a game of pictionary. Or you could look at different Thanksgiving prayers that you recite at the table before enjoying a feast of food. 

You can spend time every day discussing some of the mundane things you are thankful for, such as the beautiful scenery, your home, your family and your friends. The point is to make it an exercise that you do together throughout—not just reciting it once at the dinner table.

Plan crafts and activities 

Getting creative with a craft makes you slow down and do something that takes time together. 

You could look at making things to decorate your home, or maybe make some DIY gifts that you can give to family and friends. 

Pinterest has some amazing ideas of things that you can do and make and it can be a lovely way to spend some time with your children at this special time of the year. 

Whatever you do, I hope you can embrace Thanksgiving as a family and have some fun at the same time.