Thanksgiving is a holiday built on memories: the smell of the turkey, the same old stories told around the table, the pie someone always brings. This year, we’ve made something to go with all of that. Meet the brand-new Thanksgiving Memory & Recall Activity Books, available in two editions so every reader can find the right fit. With Thanksgiving about four weeks away, there’s plenty of time to plan ahead.
Challenge Edition
- 100 activities in large print
- Word searches, Sudoku and trivia
- Detailed picture recall
- Longer lists and harder recall
Gentle Edition
- 100 activities in large print
- One activity per page
- Picture searches and match games
- Simpler puzzles and nostalgic photos
What’s inside: five cozy sections
Both books follow the season from the kitchen to the couch, with the same five themed sections:
- Thanksgiving Feast: turkey, stuffing, pies and all the trimmings
- Family Gathering: the people, places and traditions that make the day
- Autumn Harvest: pumpkins, apples, corn and crisp fall days
- Giving Thanks: gratitude, kindness and the reasons we gather
- Fall Fun: parades, football, leaf piles and lazy afternoons
Familiar seasonal themes are a natural conversation starter. A word like “cranberry” or a picture of a parade float can bring back a story from decades ago, and that is half the fun.
Try this today: Thanksgiving Memory Warm-Ups
You can start enjoying Thanksgiving memories long before the turkey goes in the oven. Try these five easy prompts on your next visit or phone call, or save them for the table on the big day:
- Name 5 foods from your favorite holiday table.
- Who sat where at a past Thanksgiving dinner? Picture the room and go around the table.
- Recall the ingredients of a family recipe, then check the recipe card if you have it.
- List 5 things you’re thankful for.
- Share one story from a Thanksgiving long ago.
Try this: Write each prompt on a slip of paper, fold them up and put them in a bowl on the table. Between dinner and dessert, everyone draws one and answers it.
Challenge or Gentle? Picking the right edition
Challenge Edition: longer lists, bigger grids, trickier recall. A great pick for the crossword and Sudoku fan who likes to be stretched.
Gentle Edition: simpler puzzles, one activity per page, relaxed pace. A comfortable choice for someone new to puzzles, someone whose eyes tire easily, or anyone who prefers an unhurried afternoon.
Not sure? Think about how your loved one enjoys puzzles today. If they finish the newspaper puzzle before breakfast, go Challenge. If they would rather chat, sip coffee and enjoy a page or two, go Gentle. Some families pick up one of each so everyone can join in.
Ways to enjoy them this season
- A hostess gift for the grandparent who is hosting, or the one being hosted.
- An after-dinner activity for the quiet time while the dishes soak.
- A travel companion for the drive, the airport or the waiting room.
- A care package for a loved one in assisted living or a care home.
Researchers have found links between staying mentally and socially engaged and healthy aging, and a shared puzzle is an easy way to do both. Puzzles are for fun, though, not a medical treatment. If you have concerns about memory changes, please talk with a doctor.
Plan ahead for Thanksgiving
The holiday rush starts sooner than we all expect. Order now so your books arrive in plenty of time to wrap, mail or set out on the table for the big day.
From Thomas Gable Activity & Memory Books, an imprint of Ripplebound Publishing
This post is for general interest and isn’t medical advice. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
