5 Ways Kids Can Help With Thanksgiving Dinner

Not every child is an aspiring Master Chef– below we’ve put together some easy ways kids can get involved in the Thanksgiving spirit.

Set the Record Straight

Thanksgiving is often thought of as a time of peace and gratitude– but for Native Americans, it is a reminder of the violence suffered during the centuries since Christopher Columbus landed. Increasingly, there are online resources available to teach kids about what actually happened around the mythic first Thanksgiving, so consider incorporating some into your annual discussions of the holiday. Supplement research with children’s books about different tribes– we recommend[easyazon_link identifier=”0823412148″ locale=”US” tag=”gardcoll03-20″]The First Americans[/easyazon_link] series or[easyazon_link identifier=”0786814543″ locale=”US” tag=”gardcoll03-20″]The Birchbark House[/easyazon_link]– and have Lil’ Sprouts share what they’ve learned at the table.

Plan The Menu

Of all the major holidays, Thanksgiving is probably the one with the most strict menu. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with sides. Have Lil’ Sprouts look through a kids-oriented cookbook– like Forest Feast for Kids— and pick a recipe they’d like to make the for table. Giving children ownership over a dish helps cultivate confidence in the kitchen– an important skill as they start to grow up and learn to feed themselves.

Take On an Easy Recipe

While you may want to boost you child’s confidence in the kitchen, that doesn’t always mean you’re ready to hand over the five piece knife set. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty of easy recipes that don’t require a stove, dangerously sharp objects, or anything else that might set you on edge to watch a Lil’ Sprout handle. Adapt a no-bake tart or make some herb butter for rolls. One less dish for you to worry about making!

Help With Basic Kitchen Tasks

The devil is in the details as they say– so why not have Lil’ Sprouts help you where they can to save you time? Try delegating some of the less involved kitchen prep to kids, like mashing up butternut squash, sifting flour, washing fruits and veggies, stacking a parfait, or snapping the ends off green beans. Your very own sous-chef!

Dive Into Décor

With the weather growing colder, Fall is the season of DIYs. So why not channel some of your Lil’ Sprouts creative spirit into décor for the Thanksgiving table? We’re personally big fans of making a tree of thanks (which is both beautiful and meaningful) to sit at the center of the kids table. You can also have Lil’ Sprouts make stamped napkins for their table, which will help give them a sense of belief in their abilities– especially when the rest of the family is impressed with how beautiful the table looks.