Start the Holiday With Gratitude

Hello, Parents! Are you thinking about the holidays yet? Children love to celebrate, and that creates lots of opportunities for parents. Thanksgiving can present interesting choices as we decide how to present the history of the holiday as our little ones grow.

How can we celebrate the holiday while being authentic and respectful to its Native history?

Be Grateful

For the littlest of the little ones, age 3 and younger, we can focus on the thankful part of Thanksgiving. As we talk to our kiddos about the holiday, start with gratitude. What is gratitude? How do we show thankfulness to those we love? 

You can use different prompts to start the conversation prior to the day or even during your meal. Ask questions, such as “what is your favorite food that we are eating today?” Or asking your little one, “Who is someone who made you smile today?” Building from those questions can lead to talking about gratitude.

Books to Help

Trying to better understand the holiday can be a great opportunity to get some reading in with your little one! There are tons of great books that provide insight into the holiday and Native traditions. I recently picked up the book We Are Grateful Osaliheliga by Traci Sorell at our local used book store. 

You can also discuss Native American culture and express how Native people are still around today celebrating their culture and practicing their traditions. 

Adding in History

For tour 4- and 5-year-olds, we can get a bit more in depth, staying age appropriate but providing more information. 

You can offer what you’ve learned about the Native perspective of their history. When incorporating the Indigenous perspective, you can provide information about the thousands of years that Native people lived in North America before the Europeans arrived. 

Children tend to have a good understanding of fairness. 

Food Culture

Another fun idea is to try to incorporate some Native foods, such as the “Three Sisters” combinations of corn (Maize), beans and squash, which is the backbone of many tribal diets.

It could be a fun way for your child to help contribute a dish to the holiday dinner.

Enjoy the Time

As you incorporate more history into your celebration of Thanksgiving, keep the day fun as well as educational for your little ones. 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.

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