Family Thankfulness Jar

Teaching our kids to be grateful is one of the best ways to bring joy to our family and others. Thanksgiving Day is a great holiday to emphasis this trait, and starting early with this Thankfulness Jar activity is a simple way to help our kids establish habits of thankfulness that last throughout the year!

The Thankfulness Jar

Supplies:

• Large Plastic Jar with a Lid
• Colored Pieces of Paper
• Kid-Safe Scissors, or Craft Scissors (with fun edges)
• Pencils
• Envelope
• Optional – Magazines, Patterned Papers, Stickers, or Old Calendars and Glue

To Start:

1. If you have time, help your child decorate the jar. You can both use magazines, old calendars, or patterned paper and cut out fun pictures or words, then use glue to attach them around the outside of the jar. I have found that Mod Podge style glue works best, because you can paint it over the top of the paper – here is a recipe to make it yourself! For younger kids, try using stickers to decorate.
2. Next, cut the pieces of paper into strips or squares. They should be large enough to write on. You can use craft scissors to create fun edges, or add stickers to one side! Use the envelope to keep these pieces together near your Jar.

You are now ready to begin practicing Thankfulness! Every day between now and Thanksgiving Day, ask each family member write down one thing they are thankful for on a piece of paper from the envelope. Then, fold it up and put it in the jar. Try to think of something new each day! Mom can help write for younger kids, while older children could be challenged to use a complete sentence, rather than just a single word.

On Thanksgiving, while you are enjoying your other traditions {like these muffin tin meals!}, let your kids open up the jar and take turns reading aloud all the Thankfulness Papers. As a family, talk about how you can continue to practice being grateful throughout the rest of the year – maybe you will want to continue to use your Thankfulness Jar every month!

For more family ideas join us over on Facebook.

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More fun ideas over on Pinterest:

Visit Alida | The Realistic Mama’s profile on Pinterest.

Follow Becca Eby ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard’s board Festive Family Holiday on Pinterest.

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