Thanksgiving is a celebration of friends, family, and food, but it's also a time to express gratitude for the things and people we have in our lives [1]. Sometimes, the real meaning of Thanksgiving gets lost in the shuffle [2], especially for kids. Between the turkey dinner [3], visits with relatives, football games, parades, and all the other activities you do on Thanksgiving, it's important to set aside some time to remember what the day is all about: giving thanks. Try some of these writing prompts at the dinner table to get them thinking about more than just dessert [4]!
- Describe your favorite Thanksgiving memory.
- Write about your family's Thanksgiving traditions. Do you go for a walk? Do you watch a football game? Do you have relatives come to visit from far away?
- What are you thankful for this year?
- If you could invite anyone to Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be and why?
- Write a Thanksgiving story where the turkey gets burned!
- Describe the taste, smell, and appearance of your favorite Thanksgiving dish.
- What are your favorite Fall activities?
- What do you know about the history of Thanksgiving?
- What's your favorite Thanksgiving dessert and why?
- Imagine you're at the first Thanksgiving ever. Write a journal entry about it.
- Do you like Thanksgiving? Write about why or why not!
- Write about what the meaning of "thankful" is to you.
- How would you take care of a pet turkey?
- Do you think you'll like Thanksgiving when you're an adult? Explain why or why not.
- Describe the sights, smells, and sounds of Fall.
- If you could do anything on Thanksgiving day, what would it be?
- Does your family have any unusual Thanksgiving traditions or traditions that are different than your friends' families?
- How do you think other countries that don't have Thanksgiving celebrate being thankful?
- Why do you think turkeys need feathers?
- What five things in your life could you never live without?