THANKSGIVING THANKFUL TREE

One of my absolute favorite things to do as a family each year is our Thankful Tree. Each day from November 1st through Thanksgiving Day we each write a thing we are thankful for. It is an incredible way to teach gratitude and keep thankfulness front of mind in the season of giving. I love how this tradition can be made unique for every family, but the result is heartwarming no matter how you do it.

OUR THANKFUL TREE

There is a soft spot in my heart for fall foliage and my “tree” goes up each year in September when decorating for fall. Starting November 1st we each write one thing on a small tag and put it next to the tree. We’ve hung these cards in the tree in the past, but in all honesty I became lazy and stopped doing it. A little Jar or container next to the tree works just as well. You can be as meaningful or silly as you wish with your thankful tags. For example:

• A healthy family

• Gummy bears

• The way my babies cuddles up while we read books at bedtime

• Our pet

• A warm sip of coffee

• Fresh clean home

While I try to make the kids take it seriously and get them thinking about all the things they have to be grateful for, I love that I can look back and read the things they cared about in past years and watch them mature and learn gratitude. I have two very simple guidelines; write one thing each day and no repeats.

On Thanksgiving night we sit down at the table and read each card before starting our meal. It is the perfect way to end the day and come together as a family in the spirit of Thanksgiving. After we’ve read the tags, I wrap them up and keep them to look back on as a reminder of how we grow and change each year.

Vase

Stems

Tags

MAKING IT YOUR OWN

There are so many ways to customize a thankful tree, here are a few ideas to make it your own:

• Use a real or faux potted tree in you already own

• Create your own fall leaves (using this coloring sheet) to attach to a branch

• Keep it ultra simple and skip the tree in lew of a bowl or jar

Please share photos of your thankful tree in the comments below and let me know how your family makes the Thankful Tree a family tradition. Looking for more fall family fun? Check out our fun family activities, delicious recipes, and recent posts on the blog. As always, if you follow us on Pinterest, you’ll be the first to see new posts!