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On Thanksgiving Day, have your kids prepare part of the meal themselves. This task will make them feel very important. Knowing they have prepared something for their family on such a special day will be very rewarding.

One Mom Says...

Thanksgiving, a time for fun, family, food and unfortunately, many times frustration. Trying to fix the Thanksgiving dinner is enough to create all the emotions needed for one lifetime. Kids can be very resourceful in the kitchen, so allow them to help you with your Thanksgiving meal. It could become a family tradition that you will cherish always, as well as a great stress reliever.

Start by letting your children help you with the menu. If you find you always have the basics down fairly quickly but the little extras are what you have a hard time with, take some suggestions from your children. When asking them keep in mind they may be able to help you with the cooking. Ask them to tell you their favorite food but also a food item they think they might be able to help you prepare. Let them look through cookbooks and magazines for ideas.

Next, let them help you with the shopping. Give them a cart and a shopping list and send them on their way, if they are old enough to travel the store by themselves. Your shopping time will be cut in half and the kids will have a lot of fun choosing the right items for the big dinner.

Let your kids help you do the cooking. If they have chosen a certain dish they think they can make let them go at it. Be sure to stay close and help monitor what they are doing. Also be available to answer any questions they may have about their dish. They may not know what a certain spice is or where you keep that slotted spoon, so be prepared to help in those types of situations. If you have small children give them the spoon to stir ingredients together or let them pour things from a measuring cup into a bowl. Granted they may not be old enough to read directions or measure, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help put a dish together in other ways.

Children can be very helpful when it comes to cleanup also. They may not like the idea of washing the dishes, but they can rinse dishes and place them in the dish drainer or dishwasher. They can also wipe down counters, stove tops and clean out the sink. Give it a shot, you may find your cleanup time cut in half with their help.

One last suggestion is to allow your children to set the table. Kids love to put placemats, nameplates, dishes and glasses on the table. Knowing they are setting it for the family can make it even more fun. You will see them take pride in their accomplishments just because they know other people will see the work they have done.

No matter how your children help with Thanksgiving dinner, it can only be good for you. Allowing your children to be a part of preparing the big dinner will keep them busy, make them a part of the celebration and give them the satisfaction of being able to lend a hand. All of this adds up to a less stressful dinner for the entire family.

Another Mom's Advice...

First, pick out a recipe for your child to prepare. You will want to find something they enjoy to eat. Be sure the recipe you choose is challenging, but not too difficult for your child. You don't want them to get discouraged.

Next, help him or her to find everything they will need to make their dish. Show them where to find all the mixing bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, utensils, pots and/or baking pans. You will also need to help them find all the ingredients they will need like flour, sugar, spices, etc.

Now, let them prepare their recipe. It is all up to them now. Allow them to do everything by themselves, unless they request your help.

Finally, it is time to enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner with your family. Make sure to tell everyone which dish your child prepared and encourage everyone to try it. Let your kids know what a wonderful job they did and how good it is. They will be very proud of themselves.

Submitted by Christmas Fun

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