Family Activities for Reclaiming Thanksgiving
- On November 1, draw and cut out a large tree trunk with empty branches out of brown craft paper. Print leaf patterns out of colored construction paper and set them on the kitchen table. Every morning, have each family member family take a leaf and write something she is thankful for and hang the leaf on the tree with the blank side showing. Over the course of the month, each family member should express thankfulness for every family member. On Thanksgiving Day, remove all of the leaves and use them to decorate the dinner table. During the dinner, take turns reading the leaves aloud. Express thanks to and for each family member during the meal.
- On Thanksgiving Day morning, read 1 Chronicles 16: 8-36 together. Ask each family member to relate some event from the last 12 months that he is very thankful for. After the family has shared their thankful hearts, go to a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or other outreach program and help serve a Thanksgiving meal to those in need. Share a smile, a blessing and a kind word with those who come to eat.
- Invite the family to come for Thanksgiving and tell them you have a family project you want to accomplish. On Thanksgiving Day, interview family members and preserve their memories and lives on video. Ask the oldest family members to relate stories from their childhood and share stories about other family members who may no longer be living. You may also video Thanksgiving dinner for a family member who couldn't attend. Edit the material following the holiday and send the finished video to family members who will appreciate it. You might also send a copy to the family members who missed the Thanksgiving event.
- Declare Thanksgiving Day a media-free day. Turn off the television, radio, MP3 player, computer and video games for the day. Invite family members to play board games, outdoor games, talk and otherwise interact with one another. Put together an impromptu drama or read favorite stories together. Spend the day enjoying the company of family without interference from outside distractions. Limit phone contact for the day to family members who couldn't make it. Share your love and best wishes with them as a family.
