Taking part in family holiday festivities gives children a sense of belonging and makes them feel valuable when asked to help plan the day. Helping with the planning also boosts creative and organizational abilities.
Before a holiday, sit down together and decide:
- What you will cook for dinner.
- What you will do for family fun. Will you watch a little TV? A movie? Read stories about the holiday? Take a walk? Play a board game?
- What decorations your children will make. Paper holiday napkin holders? Paper turkeys made by tracing hands? A fall wreath from leaves and acorns?
- What role your children will have in the day’s activities. How will your children help shop for and prepare dinner? Clean up? Watch younger children? Bring food to an elderly shut-in?
- How you will express appreciation. For example, some families go around the dinner table and say what they are grateful for.
Source: The Parent Institute