Gratitude isn’t a new concept for us.
We’ve talked before about regularly expressing gratitude toward our kids and putting our gratitude into writing.
Do a simple search for gratitude on the blog and you’ll see many ideas for crafts and thoughts about giving thanks.
The benefits of being a grateful person range from being more optimistic, less materialistic and self-centered, to increasing our self-esteem and actually making us healthier. This is something we should be working on literally every day.
Our contributor MJ created a free printable as a super simple way for your family to get into the thankful spirit this Thanksgiving- and to get you all talking!
It has 27 conversation starters all about being thankful.
https://modern-parents-messy-kids.ck.page/d3221ec389
Simply print off the free three page PDF (on colored paper if you want to be festive) and cut them into strips. Keep the strips in a specified area. The dining table is a perfect place to start.
Whether you’re starting the day by giving thanks or ending the day going around the table with thanksgiving, doing it as a family fosters togetherness and keeps the idea of gratitude at the forefront.
If you’re a family that has a hard time grabbing meals together, you can make this idea work on the go. Put the strips in a cup holder in your car.
You can even stash a mini-stapler close by and have the kids help make the Thanksgiving chain as you’re driving to and from school and practices.
At home, the paper chain can be displayed with a pile of multi-colored pumpkins or simply hung in the window.
I love how each chain link that is added is a way of physically showing the growth of character in our children.
Teaching them to be thankful people truly can be done in big ways and small.
We hope this craft is one you can adapt to your lifestyle and use as you parent your little ones. Don’t forget to grab your free download:
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Kristin