Thanksgiving Holiday Roundup
11/22/23
Looking for ways to connect with your family this week? We’ve rounded up some great Thanksgiving tips and tidbits for you!
3 Thanksgiving Traditions to Try…
🫙 Gratitude Jar: Set up a jar or a box where everyone can jot down things they’re thankful for throughout the day. Read them aloud before the meal to spread warmth and appreciation.
✍️ Recipe Swap: Encourage family and friends to bring their favorite Thanksgiving recipes and swap dishes. It’s a fantastic way to taste new flavors and honor cherished family traditions.
🍂 Nature Walk: Start a pre-feast tradition by taking a family stroll through nature. Enjoy the crisp fall air, take in the changing colors, and soak up gratitude and the beauty of the season.
💬 Conversation Starter: Share a memorable or funny Thanksgiving mishap or kitchen blunder that turned into an unexpected blessing or cherished memory. 💬
Children’s Books: Staff Picks
In November by Cynthia Rylant – In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends. Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical language and Jill Kastner’s rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month–the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.
We Are Grateful by Traci Sorrell – The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard – Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.
Pull Up A Chair and catch up on conversation!
A great way to pass the time this week and weekend is catching up on AFC’s Pull Up A Chair series! Each episode features a great conversation that will spark meaningful discussions with your family and friends.
Episode 1: Co-Parenting as a Team
Episode 2: The Big “C”: Child Care
Episode 3: Beyond the Fatherhood Myth
Episode 4: Parenting in Community
Subscribe to Action for Children’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video! SUBSCRIBE
Black Friday Safety Tip: Establish a meeting point. When shopping with children or teenagers on Black Friday, agree on a designated meeting spot in case anyone gets separated. This spot could be a specific store entrance, a customer service desk, or a prominent landmark within the shopping center. Emphasizing the importance of staying together is just as important, but having a meeting point adds an extra layer of safety and reassurance.
That’s all, folks!
AFC will be closed on Thursday and Friday to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. We look forward to serving you when we open again on Monday… and we’ll be bringing a little magic back with us 😉
BONUS: If you enjoy family resources like this one, check out Action for Children’s Parent Newsletter! Issues are printed monthly and can be picked up at our office or accessed on our website.
Authors: Christiana Sallard, Marketing Manager at Action for Children and Kat Glenn-Applegate, Director of Child Care and Education Initiatives at Action for Children
Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; caregivers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.