Teaching Kids Gratitude:

Best Thanksgiving Activities For Kids

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s a good time to teach kids about gratitude. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to remind kids to value and enjoy what they have in the moment. It’s a time to slow down before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season starts and appreciate being together as a family.

In this guide, we’ll give you some of the best Thanksgiving activities and practices you can use to help your child learn the art of gratitude and appreciation.

Practice Thankfulness Through Crafts

One of the best ways to get kids thinking about what they’re thankful for is to turn it into a crafting activity. Make “thankfulness turkeys” this year with just a few items you already have lying around the house.

You’ll need a toilet paper roll for the turkey's body, construction paper for the turkey’s feathers, and markers to write or draw. Have your child draw a face on the turkey’s body and cut out 6-8 long ovals for the feathers. Then, have your child write one thing they’re thankful for on each. Lastly, glue the feathers to the back of the toilet paper roll to create your very own thankfulness turkey! These can be displayed around your house for the month of November, serving as a reminder of what your child is thankful for.

Have Kids Help Out At Home

When you’re a kid, it can sometimes feel like things are magically done for you. Your clothes are magically washed, your room is magically clean. This can result in children not appreciating the work that goes into keeping up a home.

Teach kids gratitude for what you do for them by having them help around the house this Thanksgiving. Give them age-appropriate chores to do so they understand the effort that goes into creating an enjoyable holiday. This will make them more appreciative of the work you put in and the time it takes to maintain nice things.

Read About Gratitude

Stories are a great way to teach children positive values, including gratitude. Sit down with your kids this season and read books in which the main character learns thankfulness and appreciation.

Check out our complete list of gratitude books for kids HERE.

Take a Virtual Field Trip

Take your kids on a journey to 1621 where they can learn about the first Thanksgiving. Scholastic has a great roundup of virtual field trips where your child can learn about the Mayflower, pilgrims and the indigenous people of the Wampanoag Nation.

Helping your children learn about the origin of Thanksgiving will give them a better perspective on the holiday, and remind them to be thankful for what they have today.

Model Appreciation and Gratitude To Your Child

Your children are always looking to you for how they should behave. Teaching kids gratitude can boil down to modeling appreciation and thankfulness in everyday life.

Be sure to thank everyone who helps you throughout the day, from family members to service workers. Pay extra attention to how you respond when your child gives you a gift. Always be overly gracious and appreciative of what your child makes for you. They will notice your appreciation and realize the importance of both gratitude and giving to others.

Have A Happy Thanksgiving

We want to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday! Looking for more ways to instill gratitude in your kids? One important way children can learn to be grateful for all that they have is to give to others. Check out our guide on teaching children the art of giving.

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