The last time I taught Thanksgiving with a group of kids, I was living in Winston-Salem, NC. They were ages 5 (two of them), 7 (just one), and 3 (thank God, just one) 😊. We read stories about the first Thanksgiving, played Native Americans and Pilgrims and traded for goods and food, and even wrote our own Thanksgiving skit. I took them all to the local historic park, where Moravian settlers first colonized the area in the 1700s. I think the poor woman in the small museum and gift shop was worried they would touch or break something. I know I was! I think she thought they were all mine. Nevertheless, they didn’t break anything and we had a great time exploring the reconstructed cabins and outbuildings, and ringing the bell in the fort (hope that was okay!).
This year, I’ll be doing Thanksgiving with an almost-1-year-old. My own sweet little Emma Kay. I don’t know whether I told enough of the story the last time I did this, nor am I sure how much of it I’ll tell when my daughter is a little older and old enough to begin to understand it. By the standards of this year, with its themes of anti-racism and righting the wrongs of past generations, I probably didn’t tell enough back then. But then, how does one share such negative aspects of history with children who are so young? I imagine it must be done very carefully. To me, that’s part of the beauty about Thanksgiving. The holiday itself is centered around a remembrance of celebration, something positive that happened, and encourages us each year to take the time to express gratitude for our blessings. You don’t have to tread lightly while delivering that message. But I can promise you that when my daughter is old enough to hear and understand the Thanksgiving story and other stories surrounding our country’s history and founding, I want to tell it very carefully and truthfully. I want to make sure she hears both sides of the story, both the fallen aspects and those that give God glory. How are you sharing both sides of the story?
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AuthorKrysta is mom to Emma and wife to Dan. She has a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education from Montreat College, where she studied with a focus on preschool-age children and forest kindergartens. Her desire is to promote magical learning experiences for children everywhere. Archives
November 2020
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