Want a fun and simple way to encourage gratitude for your family this season? The Thanksgiving Tree is the perfect tradition to teach a value that brings joy to everyone.
Gratitude Encourages Positive Thinking
Gratitude is like a magnet for positive thoughts and emotions. It creates joy! When you teach your child to be thankful for the good things in their life, you’re nurturing a positive outlook. This positivity can have a profound impact on their mental well-being, helping them manage stress and approach life’s challenges with resilience.
Teaching your child gratitude during Thanksgiving isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Janice Kaplan, author of The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life, writes the following:
“Researchers have found that people who write down three things they’re grateful for every night (or even a few times a week) improve their well-being and lower their risk of depression.” By introducing this tradition early in your child’s life, you’re teaching them a skill that can benefit them for the rest of their life.
The Thanksgiving Tree Tradition
My family has made a Thanksgiving Tree in November ever since my oldest daughter was little. It’s so simple and yet fills our hearts with joy!
How to do it:
- Print a tree large enough for lots of leaves to fit on it. We recommend 24×36″.
- Hang the tree in a central location in your home so everyone can contribute to it often.
- Print multiple pages of leaves and cut them out.
- Place the leaves in a basket nearby, along with a pencil and some tape
- Family members can write something they’re grateful for on each leaf and tape it to the tree!
By the time Thanksgiving comes, the tree should be overflowing with blessings!
The Printable
When we first started this tradition, it consisted of a hand-drawn tree looked different every year, and the leaves were usually made of construction paper. And you know what? It worked just fine! But this year, we’ve created the most beautiful printable with multiple colors and pages of leaves. designed the tree and it looks better than ever.
I’m so excited to share with you the new Simply on Purpose Thanksgiving Tree Bundle!
This new printable includes:
- A beautiful tree (with 3 different color choices!)
- More than 20+ pages of different -shaped fall leaves to choose from, both big and small
I love seeing my cute kiddo’s handwriting on these leaves, and as more and more get added the tree becomes a wonderful focal point for our family, reminding us of all the blessings in our lives.
Benefits of Embracing Gratitude
This Thanksgiving season, consider making gratitude a hands-on experience in your family’s celebration. By teaching your child the art of thankfulness, you’re not only nurturing their positive mindset but also fostering strong family bonds, building essential life skills, and paving the way for a brighter, more compassionate future. Embracing gratitude during this holiday season can be a truly heartwarming tradition that will benefit your child for years to come.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of gratitude, you will also like these other great resources: