Every parent has a few unique tips and tricks that really work! We’ve asked parents and caregivers to share their favorite parenting ideas. Read through the entries below—you’re sure to find a few helpful suggestions.

Thanksgiving Cards
Renee Zainer
Denver, CO
2 children: ages 8 and 11

I encourage my kids to make homemade Thanksgiving cards to give to their relatives on Thanksgiving Day. They decorate the outside of the cards with crayons, markers, and a variety of scrapbook materials. On the inside, they include memories from the previous year that make them thankful that that person is part of their lives. Grandparents, aunts and uncles really seem to appreciate the personalized “thank you,” and my kids look forward to the smiles they receive in return!

Mom’s Little Helpers
Laura Davidson
Oklahoma City, OK
2 children: ages 7 and 9

I’ve found that Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get my kids to help out in the kitchen. My daughter loves measuring out the dry ingredients for cookies and pies, and my son is in charge of kneading and punching the dough for homemade yeast rolls. Sure—it’s messy! But at the end of the day, a great time is had by all, and these memories will last a lifetime!

Growing Givers
Trish Ng
Salem, OR
1 child: age 12

My pre-teen daughter took up knitting a few years ago, and has proven to be fairly skilled! This fall, she decided she would make it her special project to knit a few scarves to give to a homeless shelter at Thanksgiving. As a parent, I think it’s important to encourage my daughter to use her talents to help others whenever she can, so I was especially impressed that she came up with this idea—all on her own!

Centerpiece Collection
Charlotte Meyer
Indianapolis, IN
3 children: ages 6, 8, and 11

If the beautiful fall foliage is still on the ground (instead of snow), I send the kids outside to collect some crisp colorful autumn leaves. Then, we spread them out on the table to create a decorative centerpiece for our Thanksgiving feast!

Thanksgiving Puzzles
Mia Jimenez
Dayton, OH
2 children: ages 5 and 7

Including my two children and their seven cousins all under the age of 10, Thanksgiving Day is a bit chaotic around our house! So, to keep the kids occupied while the grownups are preparing for dinner, I go online and print out a few Thanksgiving crossword puzzles or word searches that they can work together in teams to complete. Just before dinner, I give a small prize to the winning team. Providing the kids with a few fun and easy activities keeps the chaos to a minimum so that we can all enjoy a peaceful celebration.

Keeping Traditions
Stacey Daniel
Phoenix, AZ
3 children: ages 6, 10, and 12

For every holiday, but for Thanksgiving in particular, I’ve tried to establish a few traditions in our home that will make our family time especially memorable. One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is to go out to a movie together in the evening following an early turkey dinner. The kids enjoy selecting the movie, and we include everyone in the fun—from grandparents and cousins to aunts and uncles!

Thoughts of Thanks
Jennifer Kinman
Nashville, TN
1 child: age 5

I want to encourage my son to be grateful for what he has, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to do that. On Thanksgiving morning, I plan to give him a large sheet of construction paper and some crayons and ask him to draw pictures of things he is thankful for. Then, I am going to cover the finished product with contact paper and let him use his artwork as a placemat during Thanksgiving dinner!