8 Ways to Bond with Girls Over Thanksgiving Break
NOVEMBER 25TH, 2019
Thanksgiving break is almost here! For many families that means three to nine days off. We love the idea of using that time to strengthen bonds with girls. That’s why we’ve put together this list of family bonding activities. They’re a lot of fun, and a strong relationship can pay dividends later on.
Look at Old Photos
Thanksgiving can be the perfect time to break out photo albums and boxes of family photos. Children love seeing how family members used to look and it’s a great opportunity to share stories from your own childhood.
Play a Board Game
It’s easy to forget how fun board games can be. We recommend selecting a game that everyone enjoys—including the grownups. Some of our favorite games are Trouble, Monopoly, Monopoly Jr, and cooperative games (where everyone is on the same team).
Try Table Topics
When you’re sitting around the dinner table together, try introducing a table topic. Just pose a question to the group, and go around the table answering it. Start with something basic, like “What are you thankful for?” or “Name one thing you love about yourself.” Or, draw inspiration from a list of questions like this one.
Volunteer
Sometimes soup kitchens and homeless shelters need extra help around the holidays. Volunteering together can be a bonding experience. Plus, it teaches kids to be thankful and give back to their community.
Cook Together
There’s usually a lot of cooking to be done for Thanksgiving, so why not recruit a little help? To keep it fun (and not stressful), select a recipe that’s easy for kids to help with. Baked recipes (like pumpkin pie) are great because kids can help mix and don’t have to go near a stove.
Go for a Hike
Recently we talked about how great hiking can be to help create balance over the holidays. It’s also nice to get outside, and is good for bonding since there’s generally not much to do besides look around and talk.
Read Together
Reading together is always a great thing to do, and can be extra sweet over the holidays. Think back to your own childhood—was there a special book that you loved and cherished? If so, this could be a good time to read it together and talk about why it meant so much to you. If you find the book to be controversial or outdated now, be sure to use it as a learning experience and talk about what is/isn't okay, how norms have changed over time and how it makes you feel.
Make Art Together
Kids love art, and doing art with family can be even more exciting. You could make a sign welcoming family members from out of town, create your own festive decorations, paint a family tree, or even something simple like write and illustrate a short book together with paper and markers.
We hope these activities bring your family a little closer this Thanksgiving!
8 Ways to Bond with Girls Over Thanksgiving Break
NOVEMBER 25TH, 2019
Thanksgiving break is almost here! For many families that means three to nine days off. We love the idea of using that time to strengthen bonds with girls. That’s why we’ve put together this list of family bonding activities. They’re a lot of fun, and a strong relationship can pay dividends later on.
Look at Old Photos
Thanksgiving can be the perfect time to break out photo albums and boxes of family photos. Children love seeing how family members used to look and it’s a great opportunity to share stories from your own childhood.
Play a Board Game
It’s easy to forget how fun board games can be. We recommend selecting a game that everyone enjoys—including the grownups. Some of our favorite games are Trouble, Monopoly, Monopoly Jr, and cooperative games (where everyone is on the same team).
Try Table Topics
When you’re sitting around the dinner table together, try introducing a table topic. Just pose a question to the group, and go around the table answering it. Start with something basic, like “What are you thankful for?” or “Name one thing you love about yourself.” Or, draw inspiration from a list of questions like this one.
Volunteer
Sometimes soup kitchens and homeless shelters need extra help around the holidays. Volunteering together can be a bonding experience. Plus, it teaches kids to be thankful and give back to their community.
Cook Together
There’s usually a lot of cooking to be done for Thanksgiving, so why not recruit a little help? To keep it fun (and not stressful), select a recipe that’s easy for kids to help with. Baked recipes (like pumpkin pie) are great because kids can help mix and don’t have to go near a stove.
Read Together
Reading together is always a great thing to do, and can be extra sweet over the holidays. Think back to your own childhood—was there a special book that you loved and cherished? If so, this could be a good time to read it together and talk about why it meant so much to you. If you find the book to be controversial or outdated now, be sure to use it as a learning experience and talk about what is/isn't okay, how norms have changed over time and how it makes you feel.
Go for a Hike
Recently we talked about how great hiking can be to help create balance over the holidays. It’s also nice to get outside, and is good for bonding since there’s generally not much to do besides look around and talk.
Make Art Together
Kids love art, and doing art with family can be even more exciting. You could make a sign welcoming family members from out of town, create your own festive decorations, paint a family tree, or even something simple like write and illustrate a short book together with paper and markers.
We hope these activities bring your family a little closer this Thanksgiving!