Help Children Make Family Connections at Thanksgiving

When you’re little, Thanksgiving can be confusing. Who are all these cousins, aunts and uncles? Who is related to whom, and how? A large family gathering like Thanksgiving represents the perfect opportunity to help children sort out who’s who, and figure out how they fit into the mix.

Here are some ideas to help your family members connect to one another. Is there a special young person in your life, like a Little Brother or Little Sister? Talk to him or her before the holiday, and encourage your Little to learn about family this year!

• Draw a family tree. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just start with grandma or great-grandpa and draw from there on a big sheet of paper. Who married whom? How many kids did they have? Where did everyone end up? Kids will be thrilled when you get to their names and they understand how they’re connected. This is also a fun activity to do with a special young person, like a Little Brother or Little Sister, who won’t be spending Thanksgiving with you: draw both of your family trees and share stories!
• Count the veterans. Earlier this month we celebrated Veteran’s Day. How many veterans will be sitting around your Thanksgiving table this year? Young people may be amazed to learn that, when he was a young man, Grandpa served in the Pacific during World War II, or Grandma was in the Women’s Army Corps. Encourage your Little to learn about his or her family as well.
• Talk about traditions. What does your family do? Watch the parade? Watch football? Play games outside? What kinds of special traditions do you share? We know one family that always makes lasagna on Thanksgiving … another that sings old family songs during the cleanup. What makes your family gatherings unique?
• Meet the cousins. Cousins from far away may be intimidated around so many “strangers.” Make them feel a part of the celebration (and part of the family)! Get a conversation going: who drove the farthest to get there? Who had the most people in the car? Did anyone take a bus, or a train, or an airplane?

After Thanksgiving is over, talk with a special young person, like a Little Brother or Little Sister, about how they spent Thanksgiving. Where did they go? How did they get there? Whom did they see? What did they eat? Were there any special songs, memories or traditions they enjoyed? Talk about your own experiences, memories and Thanksgiving traditions, too. Traditions are best when we share them!

While you’re celebrating this year, you may see some of the people who were mentors to you, when you were younger. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles … how did they make a difference for you? And what do you have to offer young people today? If you can donate or volunteer to help Big Brothers Big Sisters … please do so today!