With Thanksgiving just two days away, here are four simple things you can do at home to help your child have an attitude of gratitude:
1. Scavenger Hunt – Equipped with paper and pen, go through your room and write down all the items you are thankful that you have.
2. Family Tree – Have your child draw a family tree, complete with parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Talk together about positive things you enjoy about each person. Pray and thank God for your family.
3. Play Grateful Hot Potato – Have your family sit in a circle. It doesn’t matter if you use a potato, ball, rolled up socks, or stuffed animal. The object of the game is to say something you are grateful for and then pass the hot potato to the next family member. If you can’t come up with anything new to say within five seconds, you are out.
4. Write a Treasured Note – Have your child think of someone important in her life: a teacher, coach, pastor, or relative. Have her complete this sentence in her note: You have made a difference in my life because ____________________. Deliver the note in person or send it in the mail.
(Note: You can find more six more ways to cultivate a thankful heart in your child in my book Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World)
These activities are great for adults too!
I hope you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for!
