Thanksgiving: Don’t Forget to Entertain the Kids

My aunt ran the Thanksgiving festivities for years and as time went on, she accumulated a lot of breakable figurines and other items that she proudly displayed in her home. They were there when I was a kid, but once my generation got older, she started collecting again.

Fast forward 10 or so years, all those little kids are grown up with little ones of their own. Her period of solitude was gone and the pitter patter and several little feet was once again heard in her home. She did her best, but things got broken. My children broke things, her grandchildren broke things and she finally said forget about it and starting having Thanksgiving somewhere else.

When you are having a large family Thanksgiving dinner, you have to take the children into consideration. Not only when it comes to breaking everything you own, but their needs and wants as well. The last thing a parent wants is little Susie tugging on their sleeve every five minutes telling him she’s bored and wants to go home.

When planning a big party, try and reserve an area for each of the age groups. Keep a room open and filled with a few toys for the younger set, or ask the parents to bring a few of their child’s favorite toys for the room.

If there are older kids, try and set up a game room with some Xbox or Wii games for them to play. Once again, you can ask parents to bring a system and games as well. This should keep them occupied for most of the post-Thanksgiving festivities, so the adults can sit, talk, socialize and…of course…sleep.

You will also need to childproof your house based on the age groups. Keep all electronic plug-ins not used covered and try to remove all sharp objects from within reaching distance. A good rule is to keep everything at least three feet off the ground, but also remember that toddlers are resourceful.

Even with all these precautions, there are going to be rambunctious children running through the house and some things may get broken. Anything that is valuable or is irreplaceable should be taken out all together. Don’t leave to chance that your great-grandmother’s tea set will survive the kiddie onslaught and just take it away to a place where no one can get to it.

This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s necessary if you want to have a safe and happy holiday season.

See also:

3 Easy Ways to Make Thanksgiving MemorableEntertaining Guests? Make Room At Home Or At A VenueStay Sane: Managing Multiple Thanksgiving VisitsGobble Up These Thanksgiving Decorations!“Where is that Thanksgiving Turkey At!?!”Thanks(giving) For The MemoriesKid’s Thanksgiving Tablecloth, Placemats and Napkins – Check out the DealsThanksgiving Craft Ideas: Making a Family ScarecrowThanksgiving or Christmas? What To Do About Decorating

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