UPDATE: I fixed the graphics so they fit on a sheet of paper now without any bits getting cut off.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. One of the main reasons is because I LOVE Thanksgiving. I think it’s wonderful to celebrate all the bounteous goodness God has blessed us with. To gather round with family and friends and enjoy good food and great company. It also helps that Thanksgiving is not so commercialized as other holidays have become.
When my oldest was 4 we started a little tradition that has helped my children focus on not only being grateful but on giving as well. We call them our Thanks & Giving trees. I print off two bare trees for each child. Every evening starting November 1st we put one leaf on each tree. On one leaf we write something we are grateful for and stick it on the Thanks Tree. On another leaf we write something we have done to serve or give to others and place it on our Giving Tree. Serving can be as simple as smiling at someone, singing a song to a crying baby, sharing a toy, or writing a letter to Grandma.
Children are so attune to what is around them. They are also innocent, caring, thoughtful, considerate. I’m always amazed every year to hear what they are thankful for and what they have found to do for others. As my children grow their thankful lists have changed become more thoughtful, more mature. This simple little tradition has helped us realize how wonderful life really is. It has caused our hearts to fill with gratitude for all God’s tender mercies towards us.
If you click on each image it will bring it up full size, ready for you to print and use. For leaves either cut your own from colored paper or use these graphics from the web.Hopefully your trees will be full of service and gratitude by Thanksgiving. Wouldn’t it be fun to read what’s on them before Thanksgiving dinner?
Don’t forget to visit the Winter Bazaar hosted by Scribbit for other fall craft ideas.
What a fantastic idea!!
What a wonderful idea! Thanks!
PS Thanks for entering my Bloggy Giveaway!
Great idea! I’m printing these out now, so we can get started tomorrow. And thanks for the tag, it’s my first official blog meme!
That’s a lovely tradition – I think we might have to adopt it.
I can’t get the pictures to print the right size…I am just a little bit computer challenged at times…help?! I really want to do this with my kids…it is a GREAT idea!
Sorry, Heidi, they are printing a little large. I’d try right-clicking on the photo, select ‘Save Image As’ to save it to your computer. Then you can print it off any size you want.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea! Thanks so much for sharing it … and for giving us the graphics. I hate reinventing the wheel, especially when I am very artistically challenged.
That is a really wonderful idea–kids are so visual, it would be a great way to remind them of blessings.
I love those ideas! I have really wanted to do a thankful tree, but I had always planned on doing a large, wall sized one that we all participate in, I hadn’t thought of a giving tree. I had planned that more for Christmas with a manger instead of a tree, and we put a piece of straw in for every good thing we do for others and see if we can have a soft bed for baby Jesus to lay in on Christmas morning.
I loved your comment on my Yippee post, lol. I hope to win me some fancy things, too, like some Lands End gift cards for some nice clothing for Christmas, however, if I were to win a chocolate basket, that would be for me. Most definately. I don’t share chocolate.
I found your idea via Frugal Hacks. Thanks for sharing! We will begin this as a new tradition for our family.
I saw this cute idea on an Ordinary Mom’s blob, and came over here to steal it. Since my kids didn’t clean their rooms in time for the big bowling reward for FHE, we’ll do this instead. thanks.
I saw this on Ordinary Mom, too. Thanks for making the trees available! This is a wonderful idea.