The Holidays are approaching; help make Thanksgiving memorable this year for your Little.
Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, we work to help the kids in our program achieve their full potential. We pair each child with a responsible adult, creating the Big and Little mentorship. Last year, we had 1,001 kids enrolled in our three programs. Of these 1,001 children across Utah, 82% live in poverty, 60% are kids of color, 47% live in a single-parent household, and 10% have an incarcerated parent. They range in age from elementary to high school — 41% are in elementary, 20% are in middle school, and the other 39% are in high school. No matter the challenge or situation, all kids can go on to lead healthy, successful lives. Utilize volunteer opportunities in Utah this season and become a Big. With a mentor on their side, Littles are more likely to improve their academic and social skills and build confidence.
It’s crucial to form a rapport with your Little so they can have someone to rely on. Here are 3 fun activities to do with your Little this Thanksgiving:
The Grateful Skittles Game
Rather than just asking what your Little is grateful for, the two of you could play a game to get to know each other better, express your gratitude, and get a snack in the process. The grateful skittle game requires just two things: a sheet of paper listed with categories of what you could be thankful for, and a bag of skittles. Each category has a color next to it, for example, “Name a place you’ve visited that you’re thankful for,” and this would have red next to it, or “Tell about a time when someone did something nice for you,” and this would have a yellow next to it. When someone pulls out a skittle, they express what they’re grateful for based on the category associated with it on the list and the color of their skittle.
Stuff the Turkey Game
All this game requires is brown paper bags and newspaper. First, fold the bags to look like a giant turkey, “Kid Friendly Things to Do” has the complete steps to achieve the perfect paper turkey look. Essentially, rolled paper bags are taped to the sides of a brown paper bag, resembling the turkey’s legs. Once the bag looks like a delicious Thanksgiving meal, the opening on the top of the bag needs some stuffing. You and your Little can wad up strips of newspaper into balls and take turns trying to throw them into the turkey. Add some sentiment to the game; each time someone makes it inside, they can name something they’re grateful for.
Leaf Bowl
It’s fun to have decorations up around the holidays. Try making a leaf bowl with your Little to be the center of the table and help add some holiday spirit. Check out “To Simply Inspire” for the full tutorial. All you need is fake leaves, mod podge, and a sponge brush. Try filling the bowl with strips of paper, and you and your Little can take turns writing things you’re grateful for.
Contact Us
Here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, we want you and your Little to take advantage of different volunteer opportunities in Utah and have an excellent Thanksgiving this year. Visit our website at “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah” to find more service opportunities and activity ideas for you and your Little.
