Here’s a craft that I think is worth it: The Thankful Tree.
In the rush of preparing a meal, socializing, and entertaining (or restraining?) a house full of little kids, it gave our extended family (ages 2-60) just a moment to reflect on why we had gathered. It focused our thoughts, even if for a few minutes, on all that we are thankful to God for. Plus, it was a meaningful centerpiece and topic of conversation.
The Thankful Tree craft is pretty dang simple, as you can see:
1) I layered popcorn and beans of various colors in the bottom of the clear vase to weigh it down and create a fall feel. Then, the kids and I went to the park and collected a few branches. I cut them down to size, as needed, and made a small “bouquet” of them in a vase.
2) Next, we traced a few leaves on construction paper of fall colors and cut them out. Then, I wrote “I am thankful for…” on each one and put a hole punch in it.
3) At the Thanksgiving meal, we placed the Thankful Tree on the table surrounded by blank leaves and pens. My children had already put a few leaves on the tree as examples.
You can see what a few different family members chose to write here:
The Daddy…
The 4-year-old girl…
The Grandpa…
The 2-year-old boy…
Looking for a few more Thanksgiving craft ideas for kids? Below are some ideas to use.
Easy Homemade Playdough – Have each family member create something they are thankful for with their playdough and then share about it at the table.
Verse Catcher – Fill the inside flaps of this Verse Catcher with Bible verses about giving thanks. Kids can take turns operating the verse catcher and reading the verses aloud at dinner.
Kid Activity: What Can You Make? – After dinner, send kids to a table filled with art supplies and materials and challenge them to a game of “What Can You Make?” Set the timer for 20 minutes (giving adults time to chat!). When time is up, have them share their creations with the adults.
Love this idea. Plan on doing it in the future as our family grows 🙂