Gratitude is an emotion we should express throughout the year. The days leading up to Thanksgiving, though, are an excellent opportunity to reinforce the practice of giving thanks and schedule some fun activities with your children to promote gratitude. Here are some suggestions for holding a “Gratitude Week” prior to Thanksgiving to dedicate one activity per day to remind kids of the many blessings and people that surround and support them.
Monday
Dedicate a day to celebrating teachers. Give your child/children a slip of paper to fill out with a thank you note for their homeroom teacher
Tuesday
Dedicate this day to celebrating all those people behind the scenes at your child/children’s school. Have your child/children write a thank you card to someone on the facilities team, a security officer, school nurse, or member of the kitchen crew.
Wednesday
Hold a “Gratitude Challenge.” For 3 minutes before dinner, have your child/children list as many things as they can for which they are grateful.
Thursday
Read a Prayer of Thanksgiving—giving thanks to God for all he has given us. Select a special prayer to read before bedtime.
Friday
Show gratitude for grandparents or special friends. Have your child/children write a note of gratitude on a paper heart to send to a special person in their lives.
The Oak Knoll Lower School chooses one value to celebrate each month. November is gratitude month. The School will be holding a similar gratitude week throughout the Lower School and placing notes of thanksgiving in the shapes of leaves on a special gratitude tree.