Fix It Friday: The Family Teamwork Guide to a Seamless Thanksgiving

Hey there, my fabulous friends! Welcome back to Fix It Friday. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of making Thanksgiving a day of joy, gratitude, and team spirit. Yes, we’re talking about everyone pitching in, kiddos included! Let’s GLO through this holiday season by fostering responsibility and self-reliance in our young ones, all while making it fun!

Why Chores Are Important

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Before we delve into our family-friendly Thanksgiving prep guide, let’s talk about the value of assigning chores to our children. Assigning chores is not just about offloading work or keeping the house tidy; it’s about teaching life lessons. Chores cultivate a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and self-reliance in kids. They learn the importance of contributing to the family unit and, in turn, to the community as a whole. In essence, chores are a microcosm of the bigger world where their roles matter, teaching them that when we all pitch in, we not only lighten the load for everyone, but we also make room for more joy and connection.

Not to mention that, when they leave the nest, participating in chores will prepare them to take care of themselves and their own homes. Too often today we see videos of kids lamenting that they have no idea how to take care of themselves. They don’t know how to cook, basic cleaning skills, heck some don’t know how to do their own laundry.

Parents think “I want my child to have a good life, so I will take care of all their needs,” but in reality you end up raising kids that have no sense of value or responsibility. Learning to care for their belongings, their home, and themselves is crucial to raising healthy, well-rounded, independent children. You won’t be around to do their laundry when they are grown, so teach them to do it now.

What better way to introduce your child to the real world than to start this holiday season with the basics.

Whether you are hosting a large family get together or keeping it small, your children can help pick up the slack this holiday season by giving you the best gift of all: help around the house.

With three weeks to Turkey Day, you might be starting to stress that the house is a mess, planning your menu, grocery shopping, planning family outings, decorating, and more. Let’s delegate some of these jobs to your tiny humans!

Start small

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

If your child has never done chores before, getting them to start by throwing them in the deep end without proper training will only add stress to your life and strain on your relationship. Instead, try including them in your routine. Have them accompany you to do the laundry but make them do the actual work. Explain each step as you go. The job will take more time at first, but after a few training sessions, your mini-you will be ready to tackle age-appropriate chores on their own. Keep in mind that children have to learn EVERYTHING we want them to know. There is no such thing as “common sense,” so if you want something done right, you must explicitly train them several times before you can let them loose on the job on their own.

I have three special needs kids. They all have unique challenges that make life a bit more complicated, but they all do chores.

My kids can do their own laundry. Cook simple meals or prepare their own snack after school. They clean the kitchen regularly, and very well. They clean up after themselves. They rinse their dishes after meals. They keep their rooms clean. They help with the animals. They are well rounded and independent. They also understand that these skills are necessary in order for them to be able to thrive on their own when they leave the nest. But it took time and training and consistency in order to get them where they are today.

My youngest, at about five years old, began learning to do laundry. Since he has sensory issues, I wanted to train him that the washer and dryer are not scary, they are tools. Tools can be dangerous if used inappropriately, so we thoroughly and regularly discuss safety. Now he can unload the dryer and load the washing machine. He still requires help transferring the clothes from the washer to the dryer because he is short, but he isn’t scared of them anymore, which is a huge win.

My seven-year-old also unloads the dishwasher all by himself, and loves to sweep, mop, and wash windows. My ten-year-old does laundry, folds and puts it away, washes dishes, wipes down counters, helps care for the animals, and much more. My fourteen year-old is so self-sufficient that I’m not sure there is anything she can’t do.

Are they perfect? No. Do I have to occasionally retrain them on how things should be done? Yes. But every little bit helps since I am physically disabled, and I am thankful for every job they do. Plus, I have the added benefit of knowing that my kids will know how to care for themselves and their loved ones. They are grateful for their chores (mostly) and they understand that their things need to be cared for to make them last.

That being said, here are a list of Thanksgiving tasks that you can delegate to even the youngest in your household to help take the stress off a bit this holiday season. Keep in mind if you have never done chores with your children, they will need supervision and detailed instructions for some tasks.

If they refuse, maybe the internet stops working in your house until they comply. Don’t get angry, make them uncomfortable, getting out of our comfort zone is how we grow into the people we want to be, and it isn’t any different for our kids. Also, involving your kids in the meal prep can derail a picky eater who refuses to try a Thanksgiving dish. Instead of making grilled cheese, include them in the prep to make it more likely they will try the food that you cook.

Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids

Toddlers (2-4 years)

Handing out Napkins: Perfect for those little hands that just want to be helpful.
Tearing Lettuce for Salad: Wash the lettuce and let your tots tear it up!
Stirring Ingredients: With supervision, they can stir non-hot ingredients.

Young Kids (5-8 years)

Setting the Table: Teach them early about proper place settings.
Peeling Veggies: Use a child-friendly peeler and supervise.
Measuring Ingredients: Time to put those math skills to the test.

Tweens (9-12 years)

Mashing Potatoes: Trust them with a bit more responsibility.
Mixing Casseroles: Let them handle more complex mixing.
Simple Cutting: With supervision, they can cut soft items like fruits.

Teens (13+)

Handling Hot Pans: They can take items in and out of the oven.
Cooking Simple Dishes: Gravy, stuffing, or perhaps a side dish.
Serving Drinks: Let them be in charge of keeping everyone hydrated.

It can’t all be boring chores though, so I am including some fun family activities to make your home more festive and help your children feel like the contributed to the festivities.

Arts and Crafts for a Festive Home

Leafy Placemats: Collect autumn leaves and press them between sheets of clear contact paper.
Thankful Jar: Each family member writes what they’re thankful for on a paper “leaf” and places it in the jar.
Cinnamon Stick Candles: Bind cinnamon sticks around a candle with twine for a fragrant centerpiece.
Beaded Napkin Rings: A fun and creative way to keep those napkins in place.
Corn Husk Wreath: Use dried corn husks to create a unique and rustic door decoration.
Decorate Sugar Cookies: Making cookies in fun shapes and letting the kids decorate them, adds a bright spot to your dessert table.

Conclusion

Remember, every member of the family has a role to play in making Thanksgiving a joyous occasion. When children contribute, they don’t just learn practical skills; they also learn that they’re an essential part of the family team. Their actions, no matter how small, have value, teaching them that they are capable of creating positive change in their world. What better lesson to impart in a season dedicated to gratitude and giving?

Welcome to GLO Productions!