Gratitude Activities for This Thanksgiving

November means Thanksgiving, which brings us to thoughts of gratitude. While the holiday is all about food, the underlying meaning throughout the season is a time to give thanks. Over the years, we’ve talked about many ways for our girls to be more thankful in their lives. So let’s have some fun with it this year. Here are some activities that promote gratitude and kindness that teachers and families can do with their children during November.

Search for Gratitude in Nature

Late fall, just before winter sets in, is a gorgeous time to go for a nature walk. Bundle up for the weather or head out on a mild day and take your girls on a scavenger hunt in your area. Ask your girls to point out things that reflect their gratitude. Use categories such as: 

• Something that makes you smile
• Something your friend would love
• Something soft
• Something beautiful when it flies
• Somewhere you would love to relax

Write a Gratitude Alphabet 

For the little ones, an alphabet exercise is fun and educational. And writing out a gratitude alphabet will present fun opportunities to get creative with words that reflect the season. Help them think of a word starting with each letter of the alphabet as something they are grateful for. They can be a person, place, thing, or feeling. 

Make a Gratitude Banner

If you and your girls love crafting, consider making a gratitude garland that you can use as a decoration on your mantle or across a doorway through the season. Cut out shapes, like leaves or turkeys, and have your girl write words on each one that represents something they’re thankful for, just like the alphabet game. 

Paint Gratitude Rocks

If you want to spread feelings of gratitude, take this time to embrace the painted rocks trend. Have you ever found a painted rock while walking through your neighborhood? They’re typically small, smooth stones with colorful words or messages. You and your girls can paint a few rocks and leave them outside your house where passers-by can find them. 

Put Together a Gratitude Giveaway

Similarly, spread some joy with a “need one, take one” box outside your home. We know someone who put pinwheels in a bucket with a sign encouraging people walking past to take one for themselves just to spread joy. Instead of pinwheels, get creative with things representing Thanksgiving or fall, like paper turkeys on a stick. 

We want to hear from you. What fun gratitude activities can you do with your girls this year?