25 Thankful Ideas For Kids This Thanksgiving (2023)

Looking for impressionable ways to teach your children to have the heart & attitude of thankfulness? 

These 25 thankful for thanksgiving ideas are perfect to do with kids.

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As a mom of four I’m constantly trying to find simple ways to teach my kids about gratitude and having a thankful heart, especially during the month of November as it leads up to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities 

As a family we love to go around the dinner table on Thanksgiving and ask everyone what they are thankful for, I really feel this is an easy way to encourage children to have an attitude of gratitude.

But maybe you are wanting to take the idea a little further this Thanksgiving holiday season. 

Don’t just wait for Thanksgiving day, have the entire month of November be your “Gratitude Month”. 

Use these 30 ideas as a fun way to get your kids realizing how thankful and truly blessed they are. Do one activity every day in November leading up to Thanksgiving. 

The ideas do not have to be huge, little things have big impact. 

1. Gratitude Jar

Have your child write down one thing they are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving and put it in a jar. On Thanksgiving day, open the jar and read all the notes together as a family.

2. Thankful Placemats

Make personalized placemats for each member of the family with words or pictures of things they are thankful for. Use these on Thanksgiving day for a special touch to the table setting.

3. Thankful Turkey Craft

Create a turkey using construction paper and have your child write down something they are thankful for on each feather. Hang the turkey up as decoration or use it as a centerpiece.

4. Thankful Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of items for your child to find that represent things they are thankful for.

Here’s a Thankful Scavenger Hunt sample.

5. Thank You Cards

Have your child hand-make thank you cards and give them to family members, friends or teachers who have made a positive impact on their life. Add a gift card if financially you can. 

6. Thankful Tree

Also known as “Gratitude Tree”. Draw a tree on a large piece of paper and have your child write down things they are thankful for on leaves to add to the tree. Hang it up as a reminder of all the blessings in their life.

Etsy has some vey affordable printables.

7. Gratitude Journal

Encourage your child to keep a daily journal leading up to Thanksgiving where they can write down what they are thankful for each day.

8. Thankful Book

Create a book with your child where each page represents something they are thankful for – family, friends, their home, etc.

9. Gratitude Rocks

Collect small rocks and write something you are grateful for on each one. Place them in a jar or decorative bowl as a visual reminder of things to be thankful for. 

10. Give Something to Someone Else to Make Them Smile

I love this simple gesture, because it really symbolizes that acts of kindness and showing thankfulness do not need to be large in nature or expensive.

Take time to notice what would make someone else happy, and do that thing to bring more happiness in the world to those around you.

11. Volunteer Together

Find local volunteer opportunities and involve your child in giving back to the community. This teaches them the value of gratitude and helping others. This year we are taking our four kids to volunteer at a local soup kitchen. I remember doing this as child myself, and the invaluable lesson of serving and loving on those less fortunate than you. 

12. Thankful Charades

Write down things to be grateful for on slips of paper and play a game of charades with your children, using these words as prompts.

13. Gratitude Collage

Have your child create a collage using pictures or words that represent things they are thankful for. Display it as a visual reminder of gratitude.

14. Thankful Treasure Hunt

Hide notes or small items around the house that represent things you are thankful for and have your child find them in a treasure hunt.

15. Gratitude Jar Exchange

Encourage your child to make a gratitude jar for someone else, such as a grandparent or neighbor. This promotes giving thanks and spreading gratitude to others. Overall, these activities promote a sense of thankfulness and kindness, teaching children the importance of expressing gratitude and giving back to others.

16. Thanksgiving Games

There are several board games that teach the concept of thanksfulness and gratitude. What better time, then sitting around waiting for the turkey to cook, to play a game with your kids that teaches them the invaluable lesson of being grateful. 

Use these Gratitude Cards for kids to inspire mindfulness!

17. Turkey Trot

Participating in a Thanksgiving Day turkey trot is a fun activity to get the whole family doing something together. Most turkey trots are racing money for a nonprofit organization and giving back to your local community. You will feel good for making a difference and will get some much needed exercise in before your thanksgiving dinner. 

18. Gratitude Garland

Create a garland using paper or fabric leaves with words or pictures of things you are thankful for. Hang it up as a decorative reminder of all the blessings in your life.

19. Random Acts of kindness

Encourage your child to perform small acts of kindness, such as holding the door for someone or helping a classmate, to spread gratitude and positivity to others. These ideas can be incorporated into daily life beyond Thanksgiving.

Pay it forward is a great example. While in line at Starbucks, offer to pay for the person behind you. What a great opportunity to teach your children generosity and acts of kindness through your own actions.

20. Gratitude Pumpkin

I love the idea of a Thankful pumpkin. We go to the Pumpkin patch every year as a family and each kids gets to pick out their favorite pumpkin to bring home. I am going to add this idea to our yearly traditions. 

21. Thankful Crafts

Paper leaves are a great activity, especially for younger children. Have your child write down things they are grateful for on paper leaves and use them as a placemat for Thanksgiving dinner. This creates a meaningful table decoration while also promoting gratitude.

This was my son’s “thankful leaf” from when he was 3 years old in preschool. I still have it in his keep sake box. What a precious and sweet boy!

22. Thanksgiving Quotes

Read and discuss inspirational quotes about gratitude with your children. This can help them understand the importance of being thankful and provide a positive perspective on life.You can do this around the thanksgiving table after sharing something you are thankful for.

23. Thanksgiving bible verses

​The Bible is filled with verses about having a heart of gratitude and being thankful. Read and reflect on bible verses about gratitude with your children. This can help them understand the spiritual aspect of giving thanks and the importance of being grateful to God.

24. Thankful Song or Poem

Encourage your child to write a song or poem about things they are grateful for. This allows them to express their thoughts and feelings in a creative way while promoting gratitude.

25. Donate to a Charity

Incorporate giving back into your Thanksgiving celebrations by donating to a charity or volunteering at a local organization. This teaches children the value of helping those in need and spreading kindness to others.

Do you have any thanksgiving traditions? Use a few from above to start this year and keep doing them each year and create your own new family traditions. 

Take advantage of the thanksgiving season, and do one or a couple of these activities to encourage a grateful heart. While Thanksgiving is a great time to practice gratitude, try to get in the spirit to have regular gratitude practice. 

Looking for some fun games and activities to do as a family on Thanksgiving? Here are 55 perfect ideas!

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