If it's at your house:
- Making place cards is a great activity for early writers. You might have to give them a list of names so they can copy the spelling.
- If you're having a children's table let your children decorate it, set it up etc.
- Talk through how they can help tomorrow: greeting guests at the door and taking their coats to a nearby bedroom to lay neatly on the bed, clearing the table after eating, delivering dessert, etc.
- If there are very special toys that they might not want to share with children who will be coming, have them put those away today.
- Older children can be in charge of one recipe: green bean casserole is an easy one.
- Tomorrow, make sure your children overhear you telling your guests how much they did and how proud you are of them. (This is even better then praising them directly, I think.)
- Set the main table tonight. But what if its your family dinner table? Throw a big blanket on the floor for a pizza picnic tonight and breakfast nibbles tomorrow morning. Then just pick it up in and take it outside to shake it out after breakfast.
- Have your techno wizard do a google search for beauthiful Thanksgiving prayers. Have the children pick one to use before you eat tomorrow.
- Go to church tonight or tomorrow, together, and talk together about all you have to be grateful for.
- Involve a child or two in what you're making to bring. Have the child who helps you carry it tomorrow. (You're creating ownership and involvement)
- Plan a hostess gift together and make it or purchase it today to take tomorrow.
- Sit down together and come up with a list of "good guest" ideas. Ask questions to help them think this through. Ask them which things on the list that they could do: i.e. saying please and thank you, asking permission, asking to help, offering specific help (may I help you clear the dishes?)
- If they will be going somewhere that is not very child friendly encourage them to bring a toy or game to share with others. Be careful here...a bookworm or gamer who withdraws to an anti-social corner and does not connect with others is a bit rude. You might need to teach this etiquette.
- Sometimes children need help learning conversation skills. Think together of conversation starters they could use: What's your earliest Thanksgiving memory? What recipe is a "must" on the menu as far as your concerned? If you'll be watching football and your not a sports fan... atleast know who's playing and who the quarterbacks are. Read together about them in the newspaper or online.
- Even if you will be with family, don't stay too long. If the kids (or your spouse) get cranky take them home. :) Staying too long is wearing on the hosts even if it's your Mom and Dad.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you. Your stories and comments are appreciated as we form a community that helps and encourages one another. You may contact the author, Jill Hasstedt at jhasstedt@gmail.com