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Thanksgiving is a time for food, food and more food. The hours spent in the kitchen add up pretty quick. By the time Thanksgiving dinner is put on the table the cooks have looked at, smelled and tasted enough food for a lifetime. How about letting older children help with the meal this year? Wouldn’t that be a huge help to the cook and think of the fun you can all have slaving over that hot stove together.

All children like to be in the kitchen with mom. Older children will even pitch in and help. Take advantage of this kind gesture and let them. Start by having them choose the dish they would like to make. Remind them this will probably be a dish that will continue on in the Thanksgiving tradition at home. Make sure it is something they will enjoy cooking and eating from year to year.

Have them make a list of the items needed for their contribution. Most children will look through recipe books to find just the perfect creation. If they have a dish in mind that has been made before, they may ask you for that recipe. They can take the list of items needed right from there.

When you go to the grocery store to buy supplies take them with you. They can pickup what they need with you there to supervise. Kids can come up with some strange ideas for food. Unless it is way out there let them fix whatever they like. Remember they are trying to help and that is part their contribution.

When it comes time to fix the dish, whether the night before or the day of, let them do the cooking. If they make a mess that’s okay, they are after all, old enough to clean up after themselves.

Once the meal is set on the table and everyone is ready to eat be sure to try at least a little of your child’s dish. Believe it or not most of the time they are pretty good. Whether good or bad, be thankful for your child and their help and remember there’s always next Thanksgiving.

Submitted by Free Quick Recipes

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