This Thanksgiving, set a place for gratitude at your family table by implementing these simple rituals designed to inspire gratefulness in kids. Giving thanks has never been so much fun.
1. Trim a Thankfulness Tree. Use twigs arranged in a vase to create a “tree,” then help kids cut “leaves” from colorful construction paper. Have them write down things they’re thankful for on the hole-punched leaves, then trim the tree for an evergreen reminder of what’s wonderful in your lives.
2. Rejoice in good health. Start the day with a physical challenge to encourage health appreciation. Many communities host Thanksgiving walk/runs, but a brisk stroll or bike ride is another great way to enjoy the last of the foliage and summon some mindfulness before feasting commences.
3. Deliver a meal to the needy. Each Thanksgiving, Meals on Wheels and other charity organizations recruit cadres of volunteer drivers to deliver food to homebound folks who might otherwise spend the day alone. Sign up, and bring the kids along. Learn more at: www.mealsonwheels.org.
4. Invite a solo friend for dinner. Encourage your kids to keep their eyes peeled for friends and neighbors who don’t have family living nearby and might be eating alone. Then, invite these solo diners to bring their favorite holiday dish to your own feast.
5. Organize a helping activity. Thanksgiving morning can be chaotic, so try designating an adult to accompany the kids to a nearby soup kitchen or food pantry for some volunteering. They’ll bask in the appreciation they receive, and the family cooks cap prep dinner in peace.
6. Toast to gratitude. Each year, delegate a different family member to lead a toast or gratitude prayer before dinner. Help the littlest ones with the task by sitting down with them and writing out a list of things they are thankful for.
7. Remember those who have passed. Celebrate the memory of deceased loved ones and pets by setting an honorary place at the family dinner table. Then, invite your kids to take a moment before eating to recall how these people enriched their lives.
8. Thank a community hero. Help your kids identify a teacher, friend, or neighbor who deserves appreciation for something generous they’ve done during the past 12 months. Together, make and send your hero a card or a small gift of thanks as a token of recognition for their good deeds.
9. Begin an abundance journal. With your kids, purchase and decorate a diary devoted to thankfulness, then invite each family member to list what he or she is grateful for this year. Take the journal out each holiday season, reminisce over past entries, and add new ones. Over time, it will become a precious family record.
10. Banish Black Friday. What’s the point of a day devoted to appreciating what you’ve got when it’s followed by a mad dash to accumulate more? Jump off the bandwagon and plan a quiet day of crafts and physical activities close to home instead. Your kids will enjoy the one-on-one time and your wallet will thank you.