From Thin Air
Whipping up a theme dinner from thin air
A very detailed itinerary to begin your theme dinner flight. You and your family will work together over an allotted time to create a final theme dinner — on any scale of intricacy, from a simple cultural cuisine to a fully staged world.
"Get your family working as one, talking to each other to achieve a common goal together."
Dynamic Detail
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. Keep theme-dinner conversation to a minimum during at least one of your evening meals — the point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Monday · Dinner One
Choose a Theme
Pick a theme based on a vote — from a pre-determined list or by ballot. If there's a tie, draw from a bowl. Use the "losing" choices for future dinners. Think about what the kids are studying in school, countries in the news, or anniversaries of historical events. Rotate the type of dinner — cultural, historical, book — to help narrow it down.
Get your kids' teachers involved — this could become a class project and start a tidal wave. For younger kids, let them practice writing on the ballots, or draw their idea (jot what it is on the back so you don't forget).
Tuesday & Wednesday · Dinners Two & Three
Research & Selection
Give everyone a couple of days to research. Discuss findings at dinner and decide who's in charge of what. The internet, library, grandparents, and teachers are all great resources. Divvy out responsibilities by age — plan the menu, select music, decide on outfits from things around the house, draw placemats, create a centerpiece, and learn the language or terminology of your theme.
Give young kids tasks to achieve while you make dinner — preparing the centerpiece, drawing a related art gallery, playing themed games online. It keeps them focused and out of your hair.
Thursday · Dinner Four
Creation
Let each person make a placemat that relates to the theme while you get dinner ready — or order take-out so everyone can gather and create together. Finish remaining tasks: the centerpiece, costumes, anything still in progress. If you have time, play a game, read a book or play, or watch a movie related to your theme to get everyone in the mood.
Friday · Theme Dinner Five
You've Made It
From the moment you enter the kitchen, you are in your new world. Use every prop, maintain your role, and speak the language of your theme. Play pretend with your children — remember how fun that used to be? And don't forget to actually eat the dinner you made. If you didn't watch a movie last night, do it now, or create a short story together about a person "in" your theme dinner who visits your corner of the world.
Make the evening last. Be a family. Instead of scattering from the table to their video games, children will look forward to this moment together — and it leaves a good taste for the time each day when families congregate and talk.
Worksheets to help you organize
For more tips, check out our book, Dynamic Dinners. Our idea blog has ideas to get you started too.
Browse pre-designed themes
