articles

Did You Know? 5 Fun Things for Kids to Learn About Thanksgiving

By Sarah Hauge, Publisher, Macaroni Kid, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial November 14, 2023

'Tis the season for gratitude and, as such, it only seems appropriate to begin this week's Did You Know feature with a note of appreciation for those who are taking the time to read this article:

Thank you, Macaroni KID families. You inspire me to create meaningful (and fun!) content for our local community. It is an honor to serve the DTC neighborhoods through the Macaroni KID website, newsletter, in-person events, and social media channels. Your support of this publication is very much appreciated. I am grateful for YOU! - Sarah, publisher of MacKID Englewood

Thanksgiving 2023 Resources:
Where to get a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the DTC
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots

Below are five Thanksgiving-themed things to teach your kids.


1. A silly joke.

Your kids are sure to gobble up this funny joke.


What kind of key can't open a lock? A tur-key


2. A new vocabulary word.

There are many ways to say "thank you." Next time you do, try it in another language...


3. A word puzzle.

To solve a rebus, consider not just the words but the placement, size, color, and quantity of everything within the box (and sometimes just outside the box!) when trying to decipher the puzzle. 



4. A fun fact.

Not all turkeys can gobble. In fact, only half the species can...


Male turkeys, commonly known as toms or gobblers, are the only turkeys that can actually gobble. Female turkeys, which are referred to as hens, make yelping and purring sounds. Want to listen to a turkey? Check out this video of turkey sounds from Oregon Fish & Wildlife.


5. Teach a personal discovery.

Science shows that gratitude can change a person's life. Physical benefits include perks such as better sleep and stronger immune systems while emotional benefits include more compassion and kindness to others. Read more about the benefits of gratitude from happyify.com.


What are you grateful for? When I think of this question myself, I always jump right to family and friends, but this list of 32 things to be grateful for in life from Sanah Rizvi on LifeHack.org opened my eyes to even more places to find gratitude.


"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." – John F. Kennedy.