I remember when I was homeschooling Suzzane and Charlie, and even when they were attending public school, how quickly those two little words could come out of their mouths. “Mom, I’m bored!” I would have to stop what I was doing and find something for them to do even though I might be busy.
Which is why I’ve been wondering how children could have toys, books, games, and a whole world outside their front door and still have absolutely nothing to do. LOL! And I bet I’m not the only parent who’s heard that. Or grandparent or even friends and babysitters.
With Thanksgiving approaching and children getting ready for their holiday break, I can almost hear those same words coming from homes everywhere. But this year, I’ve got an idea. Instead of automatically handing children a tablet, phone, or television remote, what if we handed them a pencil, a few crayons, and something that encouraged them to use their imagination?
That’s why I’m introducing Growing Minds, Grateful Hearts, our new family learning and printable activity series here at GreatfulMoments.com. One thing I learned through our years of Cates Homeschooling was that education doesn’t have to look the same every day.
We could learn math while cooking dinner, reading while curled up with a favorite book, and history while exploring somewhere new. Sometimes the lessons we remembered most weren’t the ones we found in a textbook. They were the ones we experienced together.
And that’s what I want this new series to encourage. Whether you’re homeschooling, helping with homework, babysitting grandchildren, or simply trying to keep children entertained while you try and remain sane and keep drama down during Thanksgiving break, these activities are for you.
Here’s something I think would be fun. Find an inexpensive three-ring binder. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and you might already have one sitting in a closet. As we release new printable activities, you can print whichever pages interest your children and add them to the binder.
Maybe your child loves football. We’ll have activities for that. Maybe they enjoy drawing pumpkins, collecting leaves, or writing stories about Halloween. We’ll have those too. And as we move through the holidays, we’ll add Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, and New Year’s activities. You don’t have to complete everything. One page a day is fine. Five pages in an afternoon are fine too.
This isn’t about finishing a curriculum. It’s about encouraging curiosity, creativity, and family time. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, we’re starting with activities that families can enjoy before, during, and after the holiday. Imagine children sitting at the kitchen table while Thanksgiving dinner is being prepared.
Instead of hearing, “When are we eating?” every five minutes, you could hand them an activity page and ask them to design their dream Thanksgiving dinner. Would they serve turkey and dressing? Pizza? Chicken nuggets? Maybe an entire table filled with desserts! There’s no telling what they’ll come up with.
Another activity will encourage children to think about what they’re thankful for. And I don’t want them to feel like they have to give the answers adults expect. Maybe they’re thankful for their dog, their bicycle, their best friend, or the person who makes their favorite breakfast. Those little answers tell us something about what’s important in their world. We’ll also explore family traditions, creative writing, drawing, simple math, and opportunities for children to ask their parents and grandparents questions about Thanksgivings from years ago.
One thing I want to remind you of is not every child is at the same reading or writing level, and that’s perfectly fine. Younger children might draw pictures while an adult writes down their answers. Older children can write paragraphs, create stories, or turn an activity into a bigger project.
And if Grandma wants to sit down and complete a page alongside the grandchildren, I say go for it! These activities aren’t meant to replace a complete educational program. They’re supplemental resources that families can adapt to their children’s needs to keep I’m bored at bay..
Here’s something else I want families to think about. What if you saved some of these completed pages? Write the child’s name and the date at the top. Then put the pages in a binder or memory box. Years from now, imagine opening that binder and discovering what your child was thankful for in 2026.
Maybe you’ll laugh at the Thanksgiving menu they created. Maybe you’ll remember the afternoon you spent coloring together. Or maybe you’ll find a little handwritten note that means more to you than any expensive Christmas present. That’s the heart behind this project. We’re not just creating worksheets. We’re creating opportunities to make memories.
Now these printables will not quit being made. We’re going to keep going! Our Christmas activities will include creative writing, kindness challenges, family traditions, and opportunities to learn while celebrating the season. Then we will move on to the New Year.
In January, we’ll begin adding winter and then move through the New Year. We’ll also return to earlier themes, including football, fall, autumn, and Halloween, and expand those collections as the seasons come around again. There is no need to rush through everything. Our printable library will grow right alongside our families.
Our first Thanksgiving activity pages will include My Thanksgiving Gratitude & Memory Page and If I Planned Thanksgiving Dinner. As the collection grows, we’ll add more opportunities for children to read, write, draw, imagine, and explore.
You can print the pages you like, skip the ones you don’t need, and create a binder that works for your family. And please remember, you don’t have to homeschool to participate. All you need is a little imagination and a willingness to make memories together.
I’d also love to hear from you! What is the funniest thing your child has ever said when they were bored? And what Thanksgiving activities would your family enjoy? Leave us a comment and share your ideas. Because sometimes the best family adventures begin with a simple piece of paper and a pencil.
Read our original announcement: Something New Is Coming to GreatfulMoments.com: Creating Memories, One Page at a Time
Creating New Memories, One Memory at a Time. Made with love by GreatfulMoments.com
Grateful • Thankful • Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie, and David Cates
