3 November Traditions to Do with Little Ones

1. This Thanksgiving, begin a tradition where your little ones not only help make the holiday special for others with this sweet decoration or hostess gift craftivity, but provide the makings for a casserole that will use up the leftover turkey.  Create this paper bag container for the ingredients to a Gobble Good Turkey Casserole!  Find the instructions at my post GOBBLE GOOD TURKEY CASSEROLE!

2. Another really nice activity for families to do on Thanksgiving Day while they wait for dinner to be ready is the Thankful Turkey Activity from the Idea Door!  (I scanned the turkey just in case the link is broken):  http://www.theideadoor.com/?s=color+turkey+blessings.
As an alternative to a printable, Preschool Alphabet has an arts and crafty Thankful Turkey.
Hopefully everyone will begin to focus on being thankful on this special day as they read the poem and write a blessing on each feather of the turkey.

3. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, check out my NOVEMBER TRADITIONS post that has some great activities for a special Thanksgiving "Family Night".

Kid-Sized Personal Histories

I know I got this page from the Friend Magazine, I just can't find the link!  The parent fills in the top part and the child fills in the bottom part.   This is awesome for just getting a few interesting memories down quickly during Family Night or a Sunday afternoon.  Be sure to put them in the personal history portion of the family book of remembrance (family history album).  This page is a great way to involve children in making their own books of remembrance by beginning their own personal history.  This might help them write experiences that are meaningful to them now.

Here are some other ideas and links for including family history on family night:

1. Prepare a small section of the family book of remembrance (personal histories section?) with key photos interspersed with appropriate comments to illustrate the growth and development of your family.  Share this often.  Small children will especially enjoy listening to family experiences being shared.  Go through family pictures, baby books, souvenirs--when children were too young to remember--incidents they will enjoy hearing about such as my eldest child's first smile, or how she would look out the window on a winter's day while Dad was fixing the car and yell "Da!" over and over and was thrilled when he would take time to wave back.  Or after my son experienced riding in a big rig with his dad he from then on would point and yell, "Truck!" whenever he saw another big rig.  Or the middle child who would always exclaim, "I need a hug!" when she sensed she might be in trouble.
2. Family history can be interesting and colorful.  Even children, who can't write yet can start a book of remembrance.  Let them tell you what their drawings represent, and write a caption underneath the pictures.  For instructions visit "Picture Journals."
3. Collaboratively as a family or on their own, write "What we remember best about our life in our family," even if they are not necessarily spiritual but made you and the family happy.
4. "25 Terrific Ideas for Family History Fun" is a great source for family home evenings, especially for teens.

St. Patty's Day Family Night

Just found this old homeschool photo "Green Eggs and Ham."

We did this for Family Home Evening last Monday night and my husband and 15 yr. old son clearly enjoyed the activity the most.  My husband was in charge of hiding the clues, and since we have a 21, 18, and 15 yr. old he made it hard.  He said it was more fun than hiding Easter eggs.  My son found the most clues.  We usually make the treat every St. Patty's Day, but I thought it went well with the activity.

Pot of Gold Coins
24 Ritz crackers
1 c. smooth peanut butter
2 c. butterscotch chips
Spread half of the crackers with peanut butter.  Top with second cracker.  Melt butterscotch chips and then dip crackers in butterscotch.  Place on wax paper to set, then gobble up.


Have a Treasure Hunt
Step 1 
Write the Clues.  Get seven pieces of paper and copy the following clues.  Be sure to write the clue number by each verse.


Step 2
Make the Treasure.  Find a shoe box to put the treasure in.  Then write a short note to everyone in your family, telling them how much you love them.  You may want to draw a picture of your family (I used a recently taken family portrait).  Put these treasures into the box.  [My Idea:  Maybe add the ingredients to the recipe for "Pot of Gold Coins" into the box to make as a family, after the "treasure" is found].  You can even wrap the box and put a bow on it.


Step 3
Hide the Treasure.  Keep clue 1 out to give to your family.  Then hide the other clues.
Clue 2--hide in a shoe somewhere in the house
Clue 3--hide behind a door
Clue 4--hide near a sink
Clue 5--hide beneath a chair
Clue 6--hide by a picture frame
Clue 7--Hide near a mirror
Treasure box--hide beneath a bed


Step 4
Assemble the Family.  Tell them they are going on a treasure hunt.  Give them clue 1 and HAVE FUN!


Clue 1  Roses are red, Violets are blue.  To find clue 2 Look in a shoe.
Clue 2  Wasn't that fun?  Are you ready for more?  To find clue 3, Look behind a door.
Clue 3  Move right along As quick as a wink And find clue 4 Hidden near a sink.
Clue 4  Getting tired?  Don't despair.  Go find clue 5 Beneath a chair.
Clue 5  You're doing great Playing this game.  Go find clue 6 By a picture frame.
Clue 6  You're almost through With your inspection.  Go find a clue By your reflection.
Clue 7  The game is finished, So go ahead.  You'll find the treasure Beneath a bed.


(Marene Ebert, "Have a Treasure Hunt," Friend, Oct. 1981, 8)

Try these Bierocks for an quick and easy "sorta American-Irish" meal.

November Traditions

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday...no costumes, no suitcases, no gifts, no basket grass and half-eaten marshmallow eggs, no flags to fly, no pageants to prepare.  Just friends and family bowed together before Heavenly Father.  ~Katherine Wirthlin Cannon

"Family Night"

As a family, read the books from the book list below and finish by telling the story of the Five Kernels of Corn.  For a special treat, make the Blessings Mix as a family and deliver some of the mix with the Turkey-Gram poem to a family or special person you know could use a happy surprise.

Thanksgiving Chick Lit

Sarah Morton's Day, A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl, by Kate Waters (ISBN 0590474006)

Thanksgiving Day, Gail Gibbons (0823405761)

Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit, Norman Bridwell (0590469878)

Did You Know...
Five Kernels of Corn

Many years ago during one of the early winters, the Pilgrims had very little food.  Because their corn supply was gone, each Pilgrim was given only five grains of corn to plant.  The following years they had more corn, but the Pilgrims wanted their children to always remember the sacrifices and the hardships that made the survival of their small settlement possible.  So each year when they celebrated Thanksgiving, they placed five grains of corn by each plate.  Some families still honor this tradition, so they won't forget the early days either.  

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Bugles corn snacks

pretzels

candy corn

dried or candy fruits

peanuts or sunflower seeds

Combine desired amount of Bugles, pretzels, candy corn, dried or candy fruit, and peanuts or sunflower seeds and place into a snack baggie.  Attach the following:  Bugles corn snacks- a cornucopia, Pretzels- arms folded in prayer.  Candy corn- the five kernels of corn each of the pilgrims were allotted per day during their first winter because food was so scarce, Dried or candy fruits- Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest, Peanuts or sunflower seeds- seeds represent the potential of a bounteous harvest for the next season if they are planted and well-tended.

Turkey-Gram 

Deliver goodies anonymously to your friends with this cute poem.

Turkey trot, Turkey run, Time to have Thanksgiving fun!

Turkey right, Turkey left, Placed some treats upon your step.

Turkey sandwich, Turkey ham, Gobble up this Turkey-Gram!