Sharing the Spirit of Thankfulness with Children

Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the abundance we have in our lives and to encourage a generous spirit toward others. It’s the perfect time of the year to take the opportunity to teach children to start thinking about the important things in their lives that they are grateful for. A perfect Thanksgiving activity is to foster a giving spirit in children by collecting and donating canned goods to a local food bank.

To help children understand why we celebrate Thanksgiving, share with them the story of this special holiday. For young children, I like history. Thanksgiving is… by Gail Gibbons. Older children can read the story of the first thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George. The Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving celebration after their first harvest in 1621. The Pilgrims were so grateful for the bounty of their harvest that they invited their Native American neighbors to join them for their three-day feast.

Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, and Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving celebrations often include a large family party. With the abundance of all this food on the table, it fosters a spirit of gratitude with the children. Another special Thanksgiving activity includes the family taking turns sharing the things they are thankful for.

A treasured Thanksgiving activity is starting a Thanksgiving Family Journal. During the Thanksgiving family reunion, each family member records in a journal the things for which he or she is thankful. Add a page listing the celebration, the names of the guests, the menu, and any other special activities you had on Thanksgiving. Take photos of everyone at the table and add them to your journal to create a memory book you can put out each year. Every year the new Christmas celebration is added. This Thanksgiving Family Journal will be a treasure for generations to come.