Kiddos in the Kitchen Helping to Prepare for the Big Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving can be made more special by bringing the kids into the decorating, meal planning and prep!  We have a few ideas to incorporate the kiddos into this annual holiday meal! Having the kids more involved can make Thanksgiving more memorable and special because everyone had a part and not just you 😉

Turkey Centerpiece: Make a week or so before Thanksgiving to display on the table! Set paper down on a table and have the the necessary items for you and the kids to assemble together!

1 Summer squash for the turkey head
1 Pineapple for the body
1 Artichoke for the back legs
Flowers/feathers/etc for the plumage
Cloves for the eyes
Platter to put your turkey on and anything else that you would like to decorate your turkey with!!

~Start with the pineapple on its side. Cut artichoke in half.
~Use floral picks (may need to sharpen to stick in pineapple) and insert one end of pick into artichoke half and connect the other end to the pineapple to hold the “legs” in place.
~Attach the squash to the bottom end of the pineapple with the picks. Insert cloves into the squash for the eyes.
~Wrap flowers/plumage or other decoration around additional picks, and insert into pineapple.

The finished product is your own beautiful masterpiece to display during Thanksgiving!

House Prep: Cleaning the house and having all the platters and dishes ready can be a daunting job. The kids can help ahead of time by pulling out and rinsing dishes that may not have been used since the last holiday.

Meal Planning:  Ask the family if they would like the traditional Thanksgiving food items, and/or if they would like to try something new.  Make the grocery lists, and have the kids help you gather the items at the grocery store.

Meal Prep/Assistance: If you have a lot of veggies or fruit to cut up or potatoes to peel, older kids can help with these tasks.  Younger kids can assist with easier recipes.  For example,  they can assist with pecan pie by smashing pecans, pouring the Karo syrup  and adding in sugar.

When kids are made a part of something, especially as a family, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing they contributed to something special, so get them involved this year!  AMO is a proud writer for  North Fulton Family Life publications. This article can be found in the November 2017 issue.  All opinions are my own.