Reading the monthly newsletter of TransCultural Group (TCG) always reminds me of the month’s festivals, commemorations, and other activities all over the world. Now, it’s time for Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and food. It’s fun for the whole family, especially when you have little children eager to participate in all the activities and festivities. But how about your teenagers? Sometimes, they are less enthusiastic about spending time with the family.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to get your teens involved in the holiday festivities. Below, we will share some fun and creative ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving with teens and how to get them to enjoy the holiday with the rest of the family.
Fun Thanksgiving activities for teens
Below are some ideas your teens may enjoy during Thanksgiving.
1. Host a “Friendsgiving”
Let your teen invite 3-5 friends over for a Friendsgiving. Let them plan the menu, shop for it, and prepare the place and the food. This will be an exciting and fun activity for them on Thanksgiving.
2. Put up a Thanksgiving bark station
Assign your teen to set up a bark station and create a Thanksgiving bark to eat after the meal. To create a fun and festive Thanksgiving bark station, start by lining half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Then, set out little bowls filled with different sweet and salty treats, like popcorn, sprinkles, jelly beans, candy corn, mini marshmallows, peanuts, pretzels, crushed potato chips, and chocolate pieces.
3. Make Thanksgiving-scented candles
Your teenagers can create their own soy-based candles with Thanksgiving scents that can be used in the table centerpiece, given out to guests as a mini-gift, or enjoyed. They can make the candles using soy wax flakes, fragrance oils, and candle wicks. Once the candles are set, your teens can decorate them with ribbons, labels, or other embellishments to make them look festive and unique. These candles can be a fantastic way to add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving festivity and make it even more special.
4. Cook breakfast for the family
Encourage your teenagers to take charge of the kitchen and make breakfast for the family. Allow them to plan out what they want to cook ahead of time, help them purchase any ingredients they’ll need, and then give them as much freedom as you think they can handle. This will give them a sense of responsibility and independence and help them develop essential life skills.
5. Put them in charge of the centrepiece for the kids’ table
Let your teens design, plan, shop for, and then create a centrepiece that they can proudly display on Thanksgiving Day. The little children will likely think it’s terrific that older children in the family made something for them!
Tips for celebrating Thanksgiving with teens
Getting teenagers to cooperate can be a challenge, but there are some things you can do to make it easier. Here are some tips that can help:
1. Involve them in the planning process
Let your teens have a say in what activities they want to do. This will give them a sense of ownership and make them more invested in the event.
2. Make it fun
Try to make the activities as fun as possible. Teens are more likely to participate if they are having a good time. Remember that what you think is enjoyable may not be fun for them, so be sure to ask for their input.
3. Give them some responsibility
Assign tasks to your teens, such as setting the table, making a dish, or creating a centrepiece. This will give them a sense of purpose and make them feel they are contributing.
4. Be flexible
Be open to changing plans if your teens are uninterested in a particular activity. You can always come up with something else to do that everyone in the family will enjoy.
5. Don’t force them
If your teens are not interested in participating, don’t force them. Instead, encourage them to do something else that they enjoy.
Takeaway
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to bond with your children and create beautiful memories with your family, including teenagers. With the activities and tips above, you can get your teens to cooperate and enjoy the holiday with you. Remember to be patient and have fun!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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