Guest Author - Kris Bigalk

The holiday season is almost upon is, with the big “kick-off” holiday, Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas to help your family, and your twins in particular, get into the spirit of this holiday.

Pull Out the Baby Books and Photo Albums

Kids always enjoy hearing about how they were born and what they were like as babies. Get out the scrapbooks, baby books and photos and tell your twins how thankful you were and are that they are a part of your life. If your twins were born prematurely or encountered challenges when they were young, talk about how thankful you are that they overcame these challenges and became the children you know and love today. By modeling thankfulness and letting our children know they are loved, we can foster a thankful attitude in everyday life.

Make a Thanksgiving List

Most kids are familiar with the Christmas List—a wish list for all the toys and goodies they want to see at the holidays. But what about a “Thanksgiving List”? Sit down with your twins and make a list of all the things you’re thankful for. Take turns going around the table, naming something that you value. If your kids are too young to write the list themselves, write it for them. When you’re done, post your list on the refrigerator or another public place, and/or read it on Thanksgiving Day during the table prayer. When it comes time to write that Christmas List, encourage your kids to include at least one “thankful” item that would benefit someone other than themselves, such as a donation to a charity that involves one of their “thankful” items.

Babysit for Younger Multiples

One way to teach your pre-teen or teenage twins to be thankful for all you did for them as babies is to volunteer one or both of them to babysit for another mother of multiples. Whether they are conscious of it or not, the joys and challenges of caring for multiples will foster a sense of gratitude for their parents and other caregivers.

Volunteer Together

Many communities offer a free Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless this time of year, and most communities have services that feed the homeless on a regular basis. Locate such a charity by calling your local United Way or church organization, and then volunteer as a family to help serve at one of these functions. Your children will appreciate what they have when they interact with people who are less fortunate than themselves.