Author of FHEasy: A Year of Weekly Teachings and Daily Devotionals Shares How to Make Thanksgiving More Fun for Families

DURANGO, Colo., Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tina Albrecht says Thanksgiving has an image problem. For many children (and adults), Thanksgiving is all about cooking, eating and having company over. It's often about stuffing stomachs with food when it should be about stuffing ourselves with gratitude, says the mother of three daughters aged 10, 7 and 4.

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"Kids can only get so excited over one meal, especially if they have to do a bunch of work they don't want to do and Mom or Dad is stressed about having everything just so at some particular time," she says.

Albrecht offers three tips that can make the holiday more enjoyable for all ages. First, she advises thinking like a kid and incorporating elements children like such as costumes, candy, games and arts and crafts. Second, simplifying your traditional Thanksgiving meal if it has become too complicated and devoting time to play with children. Third, prep ahead. For example, buy the candy, get out the wrapping paper and gather what you need to play the games and put everything in a box you can easily access on the holiday.

Albrecht also recommends:

• Writing a gratitude list throughout the week and setting a goal of 1,000 entries. Set out a notebook where everyone can write in it, discussing the entries with your family.
• Making a Thanksgiving Tree. Draw a large tree and affix "leaves" that kids can color and use to write what they are thankful for and ways people have helped them.
• Creating a Thanks-Giving box filled with items from a dollar store. Ask kids to write down a predetermined number of things they are grateful for, and when they reach their goal let them pick out a gift for someone else. Help them wrap the present and give it to that individual.

About Tina Albrecht

Tina Albrecht is the author of FHEasy: A Year of Weekly Teachings and Devotionals, published by Cedar Fort Publishing, which launches Nov. 8. FHEasy refers to family home evenings, a religious home teaching concept practiced by LDS families like Albrecht's. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in linguistics and a master's certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages.

Availability: Durango, Colo., nationwide by arrangement and via telephone

Contact: Tina Albrecht, (970) 588-3702; [email protected]; www.FHEasy.com.

SOURCE Tina Albrecht