Dinner's done — now what? After all the hours of prep work that go into Thanksgiving dinner, it seems as if it's gobbled up in no time flat. What to do next? Here are ideas for the family to enjoy after the big feast.
Create a Thanksgiving tablecloth or sign a pumpkin. According to positive psychology research, simply expressing gratitude can enhance overall happiness. Invite family members to consider their individual blessings. Purchase a large artificial pumpkin or solid color tablecloth (to use year after year) for everyone to sign. Ask each person to write a note on it about what they're most grateful for this year—and date it. If signing a tablecloth, be sure to use fabric markers and protect the table by placing a cardboard matte underneath it.
Go for a walk. According to the Calorie Control Council, a traditional Thanksgiving meal serves up 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat for the average American. Start burning some of those calories by taking a stroll after the big meal.
Get out the board games. Declare a "no-tech" zone and engage in lighthearted family fun and conversation with board games. Playing games together builds camaraderie and provides low-key entertainment and face-to-face togetherness. Some family favorites include Sequence, Mouse Trap, Pandemic, Telestrations and Clue—or try one of this year’s games! Here's a list of great new games.
Play flag football. Football is as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and pumpkin pie. Play a fun game of flag football. It’s a great group activity before pie!
Share family stories. Before the big meal, have the kids write questions to ask dinner guests and slip one under the plate of each table setting. After dinner, go around the table and have each person pull out their question and share. Questions such as "What was Thanksgiving like when you were growing up?" and "What was your best Thanksgiving ever and why?" are sure to rekindle fond memories.
Plan a scavenger hunt. Send everyone outside for a scavenger hunt. Give each team a small bag to collect items or have them use phones to take photos of items on the list. Keep it simple for little ones and more challenging for older kids. Find great themed scavenger hunt ideas in our article HERE. Team adults with kids and turn the hunt into a fun race to the finish. The winning team receives the first slices of pie!
Puzzle fun. Lauri Duncan, a mom of two boys, ages 8 and 11, says that she and her family do a puzzle after dinner. "We do one big puzzle every year that every age can work on. Kids, parents, cousins and grandparents work on it in rotations throughout the afternoon," she says.
Pumpkin tic-tac-toe. Purchase five mini white pumpkins and five mini orange pumpkins. Make a grid on a card table using craft paper and painter's tape. Or use larger pumpkins and set the game up in the yard using sticks to make nine squares.
Get into the holiday spirit. If your large extended family is together for Thanksgiving, this is a good time to pull names for a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange. Everyone draws names, keeps the name they pulled secret, and purchases a light-hearted or wacky gift to exchange around the holidays.
In memoriam. The holidays can be especially difficult for those grieving loved ones. Look through family photographs together, watch old home videos or take time to tell stories about your special someone. Mindy Foral, mom of two, says one of her favorite traditions on Thanksgiving night is to listen to a recording her mother made before she died of The Night Before Christmas in a recordable book. "It's such an incredible treasure,” Foral says. “There is something about hearing the voice of your loved one—especially someone who loved spending the holidays with her grandkids."
If you (or your child) are grieving the loss of a loved one this holiday season, read “Dealing with Grief in a Time of Joy” for coping tips and support resources.
Remember those on deployment. If your spouse is deployed for military duty over the Thanksgiving holiday, he (or she) will definitely be missed. After dinner, invite your family and friends to circle around the table to make cards and write letters to your absent loved one. Mail everything in a package to show they were still an important part of your day.
Find more great ways to show gratitude to military service members in “9 Ways to Thank a Veteran.”
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Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband have two sons, ages 12 and 10. Every year after the big feast, they take their two dogs for a walk through the autumn leaves.
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