Thanksgiving Family Traditions

Thanksgiving Family Traditions

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I realized that we usually just focus on the meal on this day and probably need to broaden our focus on a few new Thanksgiving family traditions. It’s never too late to start a new one. I love traditions because they bring your family closer together and make such lasting memories. I have been searching high and low to find the best traditions.

Thanksgiving Family Traditions

1. Turkey Bowl: Get the family up early on Thanksgiving and have your own touch football game.

2. Go Volunteer: There are always places looking for volunteers to hand out meals to the less unfortunate. The United Way website has several opportunities listed.

3. Eat Like a Pilgrim: If you live in Utah, Thanksgiving Point serves a feast just like the pilgrims first Thanksgiving. You will meet several characters from the first Thanksgiving feast including Gov. William Bradford, Squanto and William Brewster.

4. Thankful Tree: Let each family member write on leaves, what they are thankful for and you have a perfect centerpiece for your table. Check out our Thankful Tree!

5. Memory Tablecloth: How fun would it be if you let everyone in the family write on the tablecloth, what they are thankful for! Then next year, you can pull it out and remember the memories of the past year and even get a little smile on your face, thinking about how much your family has changed. Check out our tablecloth.

6. A Secret Meal: Is there someone in your neighborhood that might be struggling? Leave all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal on their doorstep a couple nights before Thanksgiving. Your kids will love being secret agents and they will find out how fun it is to do service for someone else.

7. Family 5k Run and Walk: Nothing feels better than getting a little exercise before that yummy meal. You could have medals and awards for each family member.

8. Here Comes the Sun: Watch the sun rise with a big thermos of hot chocolate and some yummy donuts. Don’t forget the blankets!

9. Have a Dessert Contest: Everyone that attends the feast will bring a dessert and see who will win the prize!

10. Special Name Cards: Instead of putting names of the cards, write down three words that best describes each person, and on the back write why you are thankful for that particular person.

 11. Christmas Lights: Our cute town has Festival of Lights and it starts on Thanksgiving night. If your town doesn’t have something like this, I’m sure there is plenty of homes that will be all decked out. Check out the lights and get a little excited for Christmas!

12. Family Games: It is so fun to get everyone moving and play a few fun and easy games that everyone in the family can participate in. Check out our list: Family Games

13. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: Make a simple list of things to find that remind you of Thanksgiving. The night before Thanksgiving, the whole family changes into their pj’s, and you drive around town looking for the items.

14. Family Journal: Have each member of the family write down one of their favorite memories and place it in a Thanksgiving scrapbook. Each year, you can read the stories and enjoy the memories.

15. Take Photos with Props: Snap some fun pictures of the family this Thanksgiving. Make some easy props and get ready for your close up!

16. Top Ten Thankful List: Have everyone make their own top 10 reasons they are thankful this year.

17. Random Acts of Kindness: Randomly serve others. What a great way to feel thankful! Check out our list of Random acts of Kindness!

18. Blessing Jar: Set this jar out year round to remind the family of their blessings. Add a blessing each day and see how full it gets by next Thanksgiving.

19. Take a Thankful Challenge: We all love a challenge! These challenges will help you focus on what really matters and will create lasting memories that will last forever.

20. Thanksgiving Time Capsule: Your whole family will be so excited to dig a hole for the time capsule. Fill it with either things or notes of things they are thankful for. What a fun surprise for next year!

Thanksgiving Family Traditions