Harvest season is rooted in gratitude. It’s a special time when loved ones gather around the Thanksgiving dinner table to enjoy loads of homemade goodies, play games, and give thanks for another blessed year.
Even as you celebrate old traditions, there’s still time to try something new this year. If you’re looking for ways to spice up Thanksgiving, check out the following five ideas.

1) Decorate the sideboard. A sideboard is a small table or cabinet to place side dishes that might not fit on your main dinner table. Decorating the sideboard can be fun family tradition where you showcase seasonal décor, family pictures or even place handwritten cards to display what you’re thankful for.

2) Set up a craft table for the kids. Kids can sometimes grow bored while the adults are preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Keep them occupied by stocking a table with construction paper, crayons, glue sticks, googly eyes and more kid-friendly materials for turkey-themed crafts.

3) Create DIY place cards. This is a fun tradition to share with the kids. Have your child write down the name of each guest on a piece of brown construction paper. They can decorate the place cards with paint or glitter. These name cards can be reused each year!

4) Go for a post-Thanksgiving meal walk. After stuffing yourself with turkey, greens, yams and mac and cheese, the old tradition includes curling up on the couch and taking a nap or watching the parade on TV. A fun, new tradition is going for a post-Thanksgiving meal walk. There’s nothing like a little family exercise to lift everyone’s spirits. Go for a brisk walk around the block after dinner. This is a great way to get some fresh air, take in your neighborhood’s seasonal decorations and bond as a family.

5) Make gratitude bracelets. Help your kids craft personal gratitude bracelets that they can wear or give to a loved one. This is a unique new tradition where the whole family join in.

Materials:
– Plastic beads of different colors. You can even buy letter beads to spell out words like “love,” “hope” or “family.”
– Elastic string that fits through the bead holes
– Glue to secure the knot
– Kid scissors to cut the string

Set up the bracelet-making table by putting the different beads in bowls, cut pieces of string for each bracelet, and set out a piece of cloth for individuals to design their bracelet on. Thread the first bead through the string and tie a big knot to secure it. Then slip the remainder of the beads onto the string, tie the two ends together and fasten with glue for an extra hold. Set the bracelets aside until the glue dries and enjoy your creation!