Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. The thought of getting together with family and friends may be quite exciting. However, for those hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their house, a feeling of panic may have set in at the thought of how little time is left. Have no fear; we have some tips below for hosting Thanksgiving at your house with less stress.

Stick with the Tried and True

While it may be tempting to go all out for those you will have as guests in your home, one of the most undervalued tips for hosting Thanksgiving is to keep things simple. You have a lot of food to prepare, and often new recipes take time to perfect. As such, it is not advisable to be trying to figure it out when you are on the clock for the big meal. If you decide to try a new recipe, make sure you have at least one trial run to familiarize yourself with the cooking process. Additionally, if possible, try to make new recipes the day before so that you have a second shot if anything gets messed up.

More Than Just Food Preparation

It pays to keep in mind that there is more to Thanksgiving dinner than just the food itself. It is beneficial to prepare as much as you can ahead of time. Things, like setting the table, folding the napkins, ironing the tablecloth, washing all the serving dishes and bring out extra utensils or china, are all tasks that can be performed days or weeks ahead of time. Spreading out the tasks over days or weeks can certainly make hosting Thanksgiving feel like much less of a chore.

Looking Out for Children

If you will have guests with families, one thing that can really make an impact on them is having activities to keep them busy and give their parents a chance to relax. Providing entertainment, care or both has so much more to offer than just a simple kid’s table. Consider hiring Joanna’s Nannies to provide care for your big dinner. Their trained caregivers specialize in not only providing care for children but also will bring books, toys, and games that are age appropriate to keep them entertained the whole day.Check out this article for more helpful tips for planning your family’s Thanksgiving.