Are you known for your stuffing or mashed potatoes? Or do you make an award-winning pumpkin pie? If so, inviting your child to cook with you could mean so much to her. Even if you're not an accomplished cook, preparing food together can be a lot of fun.

If this sounds like a nightmare given how hectic Thanksgiving cooking can be, see if you can find a way to make a little extra time to prepare this one dish. You can also do things like pre-measure ingredients to cut down on the “assisted” cooking time and limit the mess.

While some families fear the conversation at the Thanksgiving table, we love the idea of using hand-selected table topics to steer the conversation in a positive, loving way. It’s fun to go around the table and hear everyone’s answers to a given question. We like the idea of simply asking everyone to share their favorite Thanksgiving memory to start things off.

The magic of doing a jigsaw puzzle as a family is not about finding pieces, and building out an image as a group. Sure, that can be fun, but the real magic comes from the chatter. When you’re all hovered around a puzzle together for an extended period of time, there’s nothing else to do but talk. We’ve found that puzzle conversation can be some of the most relaxed and silly chatter ever.

Going for a walk or a hike as a family can be a great antidote to the sitting and eating that most of us experience on Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to model activity and balance for girls, and much like doing puzzles, leads to great conversation.

We hope you have a wonderful break!