5 Meaningful Family Thanksgiving Bonding Activities

Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

My family has always celebrated Thanksgiving as a time to come together and enjoy a meal — to be thankful for our time together and all that we have to eat (despite the holiday’s painful past).

Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

Though it’s also a family tradition for my mom, sister and I to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving that was never the focus of the holiday, but many stores seem to have shifted that direction. This shift has taken all the focus of the holiday from caring for others to buying things for Christmas.

Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

So in the spirit of actually celebrating Thanksgiving as a day of togetherness this year, here are some fun things you can do together as a family for Thanksgiving.

Family Thanksgiving Bonding Activities

Family Thanksgiving bonding activities include: – starting a friendsgiving tradition – donating your time and dinner – having a simple family meal together – making new traditions – getting everyone into the kitchen

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

Sometimes close friends are the best family you have, and holiday dinners don’t feel quite right with just 2 or 3 people, so it’s fun to get a group of friends who are like family together to enjoy the day. It doesn’t hurt that each person brings a dish, either — It makes the event way less stressful.

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

I went to my first ever Friendsgiving a few years ago and it was amazing. I didn’t know anyone there except the hosts and everyone else had known one another for years, but no one made me feel like an outsider — it was just welcoming and super fun for me and the kiddo to attend (my husband works holidays).

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

I highly recommend creating a Friendsgiving if your extended family is far away or busy and your own little family would like to share the day with others — Especially other friends who don’t have Thanksgiving plans.

Donate Your Time and Dinner Together

Some families are reminded of all that they have on Thanksgiving and dedicate the day to giving to those without food, home or loved ones — An extremely powerful way to spend the day.

Donate Your Time and Dinner Together

Make this a family activity by signing everyone one up to help at a local shelter ahead of time, or enjoy a family cooked meal at home where you make double batches, create dinner bags and deliver them with a warm blanket to homeless throughout the city on Thanksgiving night.

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

Take time to just sit and eat with your family. You don’t need to cook up an extravagant menu to spend time with those you love.

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

Turn off the TV and all phones to just connect. In my family, we continue to gather for a visit and to share with one another something we’re thankful for — to simply stop and be thankful in this negative society and remember how blessed we are to have one another.

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the mundane day-to-day frustrations, so if it takes slicing a turkey and heating up some fresh apple pie so be it!

Make New Traditions as a Family for Thanksgiving

Don’t let Thanksgiving be just about a dinner or shopping — Make a family tradition to see a morning parade, play a game of football, make sandwiches for the homeless, or play board games all day. Be sure there’s at least one activity everyone can agree on and add some more every year.

Make New Traditions as a Family for Thanksgiving

If your family really enjoys Christmas, then pick out a real tree or put up the fake one and make some homemade decorations during the day while the turkey cooks so that there will be some added decor at dinnertime! Maybe make a delicious apple pie recipe together!

Get Everyone in the Kitchen to Bond This Thanksgiving

Cooking for holidays is stressful! Make it a family affair so that everyone is excited about and appreciates dinner once it’s ready. Giving each member of the family either their own dish to make or a specific kitchen helper task not only keeps your family together all day but makes whipping up a huge meal a lot easier.

Get Everyone in the Kitchen to Bond This Thanksgiving

I usually make apple pie and loaded sweet potatoes with Savannah for my dishes (she loves this!), and my mom makes the green bean casserole and turkey when she hosts.

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5 Meaningful Family Thanksgiving Bonding Activities

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Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

My family has always celebrated Thanksgiving as a time to come together and enjoy a meal — to be thankful for our time together and all that we have to eat (despite the holiday’s painful past).

Read more

Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

Read more

Spending Thanksgiving as a Family

So in the spirit of actually celebrating Thanksgiving as a day of togetherness this year, here are some fun things you can do together as a family for Thanksgiving.

Read more

Family Thanksgiving Bonding Activities

Family Thanksgiving bonding activities include: – starting a friendsgiving tradition – donating your time and dinner – having a simple family meal together – making new traditions – getting everyone into the kitchen

Read more

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

Read more

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

Read more

Start a Friendsgiving Tradition as the First Bonding Activity

I highly recommend creating a Friendsgiving if your extended family is far away or busy and your own little family would like to share the day with others — Especially other friends who don’t have Thanksgiving plans.

Read more

Donate Your Time and Dinner Together

Some families are reminded of all that they have on Thanksgiving and dedicate the day to giving to those without food, home or loved ones — An extremely powerful way to spend the day.

Read more

Donate Your Time and Dinner Together

Make this a family activity by signing everyone one up to help at a local shelter ahead of time, or enjoy a family cooked meal at home where you make double batches, create dinner bags and deliver them with a warm blanket to homeless throughout the city on Thanksgiving night.

Read more

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

Take time to just sit and eat with your family. You don’t need to cook up an extravagant menu to spend time with those you love.

Read more

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

Turn off the TV and all phones to just connect. In my family, we continue to gather for a visit and to share with one another something we’re thankful for — to simply stop and be thankful in this negative society and remember how blessed we are to have one another.

Read more

Have a Simple Family Meal Together to Bond as a Family This Thanksgiving

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the mundane day-to-day frustrations, so if it takes slicing a turkey and heating up some fresh apple pie so be it!

Read more

Make New Traditions as a Family for Thanksgiving

Don’t let Thanksgiving be just about a dinner or shopping — Make a family tradition to see a morning parade, play a game of football, make sandwiches for the homeless, or play board games all day. Be sure there’s at least one activity everyone can agree on and add some more every year.

Read more

Make New Traditions as a Family for Thanksgiving

If your family really enjoys Christmas, then pick out a real tree or put up the fake one and make some homemade decorations during the day while the turkey cooks so that there will be some added decor at dinnertime! Maybe make a delicious apple pie recipe together!

Read more

Get Everyone in the Kitchen to Bond This Thanksgiving

Read more

Get Everyone in the Kitchen to Bond This Thanksgiving

I usually make apple pie and loaded sweet potatoes with Savannah for my dishes (she loves this!), and my mom makes the green bean casserole and turkey when she hosts.

View more

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