How To Tell The Thanksgiving Story To Kids

In school, we all learned about the three-day feast that now marks as Thanksgiving. We happily begin the celebration of this holiday with turkeys and cozy spiced pumpkin lattes. However, we often forget the mistreatment that the Native and Indigenous Communities had to face over the course of centuries. These are the darkest and most difficult moments of American history. By not sharing the details of this narrative with our children, we are rending the struggles of the Native Americans obsolete. And more importantly, you do not want to share an incorrect version of history with the next generation of the country. To avoid this, it is important to rephrase the narrative—change the simple Thanksgiving story we share with our children, and instead, be honest.

Here are a few things you should do to ensure a healthy storytelling environment for your children:

Know The Facts

Before you dive into the storytelling experience, it is always better to educate yourself. Children are curious and can always come up with the most inquisitive questions. It is always better to know your history before you decide to share it. You can read official documents compiled by the First Nations Development Institute and The National Museum of the American Indian to have the most authentic sources at your disposal.

Be Conscious Of Your Motivations

Are you having this conversation to get it off your checklist of good new-age parenting, or is it something you are seriously conscious about? Your intentions tend to decide the manner in which you share the story. Your comfort level also plays a major role in the storytelling experience.

Gather A Different Perspective

Not all cultures celebrate Thanksgiving with turkeys and pumpkin lattes. Many Native Americans actually mark Thanksgiving as a day of mourning. They view it as a day that commemorates the arrival of North American settlers who caused the centuries of oppression and genocide. Many other Native Americans celebrate their autumn harvest that coincides with Thanksgiving but is not related to Thanksgiving in any manner.

Use Reliable Material

While there are several books for kids out there that explain Thanksgiving in a crisp and happy manner, they are more often than not incorrect. They are not just inaccurate about the story but also have problematic and stereotypical issues. Although it is challenging to have a truthful account of history, it is better to use nothing instead of using incorrect children’s storybooks on your impressionable children.

Avoid Stereotypes

Stereotypes are omnipresent, and sometimes parents slip and make a comment that might leave a permanent mark on your child’s outlook towards other people. Which is why avoiding stereotypes becomes crucial. Instead of using general terms such as Native Americans, try researching the traditional and specific names of each tribe and using them in the conversation. Being culturally appropriate and politically correct is important from the very beginning.

Continue Having This Conversation

Having a one-off conversation about the holiday does not raise your child’s awareness regarding American history. Although Native American Heritage Month marks November as a great starting point for your child at home to begin their storytelling education experience, it shouldn’t be the end of it. Native Americans continue to be disproportionately discriminated against and require a consistent dialogue, which is what we would recommend you to do with your children. Have a consistent dialogue that continues well after the end of November.

We know it might seem a little overwhelming and slightly shift the holiday spirit into an education marathon, but it is an important account of history that needs to be shared with children from the very beginning. Repeated storytelling of incorrect accounts can leave a lifelong impression on your children. By sharing the correct version, you encourage your children to learn more about American history, show empathy, and appreciate the holiday even more.

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