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Thanksgiving Day for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers

Thanksgiving Day for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers

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As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday season, it is important to reflect on the history of this special day and find ways to celebrate with our little ones. Thanksgiving is a time to come together with family and friends to give thanks for our blessings and enjoy a delicious feast. Let’s look into Thanksgiving crafts for kids. We will also look into Thanksgiving dinner, books, and crafts for toddlers and preschoolers. However, do our toddlers and preschoolers understand the significance of this holiday?

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    The history of Thanksgiving dates back to the 17th century when the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together to celebrate a successful harvest. The Pilgrims faced many challenges when they first arrived in the new world, but with the help of the Native Americans, they could plant and harvest crops to sustain themselves. This first Thanksgiving was a time of gratitude and unity between two groups.

    As parents, it is important to teach our children the history of Thanksgiving and help them understand the importance of giving thanks. Even though toddlers and preschoolers may not fully grasp the concept of history, we can still find ways to celebrate and create meaningful traditions with them.

    Cartoon boy carrying groceries.

    A wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving with young children is by including them in meal preparation. Although they may not be able to assist with complex recipes, toddlers and preschoolers can have a great time learning and helping with simple tasks like washing vegetables, stirring ingredients, or setting the table. This makes them feel like part of the celebration, teaches them important life skills, and is incredibly enjoyable.


    Reading Thanksgiving-themed books with your young kids can help them understand the meaning of the holiday and learn about traditions like gratitude and giving thanks. Many wonderful books are available for them that share heartwarming stories and beautiful illustrations about the Thanksgiving season. These books can also spark conversations with your child about what they are thankful for and create special bonding moments as you read together. Consider adding some of the following Thanksgiving books to your reading routine this season, and watch as your child’s understanding and appreciation for the holiday grow.

    A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Peanuts)
    Sale 10 Fat Turkeys
    Sale Arthur's Thanksgiving (Arthur Adventures)
    Pookie's Thanksgiving (Little Pookie)
    Sale Thanksgiving Parade (Thanksgiving Board Books)

    Another way to celebrate Thanksgiving with young children is by incorporating fun activities and crafts into the day. You can create handprint turkeys, make pilgrim hats, or even have a mini parade around the house. These activities engage children in the holiday spirit and provide opportunities for bonding and creating lasting memories.

    Craft supplies for easy paper plate turkey crafts should be open-ended or child-created. It’s great to get hand-printed heirloom turkeys like the one listed above, but these are parent crafts for child development. The supplies should be available for open-ended child crafts, and instructions should be demonstrated. It is critical to let children create their craft without adult intervention. They should be allowed to complete the craft differently and make something completely different. This helps build imagination. Parents can help if the child is frustrated, but they should ask the child how to help. This is what a genuinely open-ended project entails.

    Googly Eyes! They are a severe choking hazard to infants and toddlers. Try eye stickers instead.

    Pom Poms! These are also a severe choking hazard to infants and toddlers. Use with supervision, or better yet, find a replacement like stickers.

    Fun ideas for little hands and young crafters are fat turkeys, cute turkeys, paper plate turkey wreaths, and silly turkeys. Don’t forget to make pretend food, such as pumpkin pie crafts. This is a great way to practice simple fractions such as whole and half. It would be even better if you could practice color and shape recognition.


    Furthermore, it is important to talk to your children about the concept of gratitude and why it is important to give thanks. You can ask them what they are thankful for and encourage them to express their gratitude to others. This helps to instill a sense of appreciation and empathy in young kids, which are important qualities to develop as they grow older.

    Sale Gratitude is My Superpower: A children’s book about Giving Thanks and Practicing Positivity (My Superpower Books)

    In conclusion, Thanksgiving for toddlers and preschoolers is a special holiday that allows families to come together and give thanks for their blessings. As parents of toddlers and preschoolers, we must teach our children the history of Thanksgiving and find ways to celebrate meaningfully and age-appropriately. Involving our little ones in the festivities can create lasting memories and instill important values that will carry them through life.


    Toy Safety Guidance for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

    Developmentally Appropriate Toys: What and Why are they Important?

    Whole child Education: What is the Approach to Teaching?

    Consumer Product and Safety Commission 

    I value your input and comments tremendously! Please let me know if there is anything else I should include in this blog post! Until my next post, Keep Everything Simple. Talk with you soon!

    Maggie

    Friday 8th of November 2024

    Wonderful ideas! I love the one about teaching your kids about gratitude.

    Trina

    Friday 8th of November 2024

    This is so interesting and fun looking! Thanks for putting this together for our littles!

    Katie Green

    Thursday 7th of November 2024

    Thank you for the printable and great tips to make Thanksgiving fun for the littles!

    Penny

    Thursday 7th of November 2024

    This is so perfect! Live the history & coloring sheet!🤩

    Kayla

    Thursday 7th of November 2024

    Cute ways to engage littles and help them learn about traditions!