Jar of Thanks

With November starting in full swing and Thanksgiving on the horizon, I am reminded more and more about expressing my gratitude – and encouraging my kids to do so as well.  I found the cutest idea on parents.com ~ a jar of thanks you can turn into a family thankful garland for Thanksgiving.

Jar of Thanks

Have your family start in early November and contribute to the jar everyday until Thanksgiving.

You’ll need lots of little pieces of paper or notecards…big enough to write a few words on, but small enough so a bunch of them can fit in your jar or container.

Then designate a glass vase, mason jar, clear bowl – whatever you have on hand – to designate as your “jar of thanks.”

Each day, have every family member write down one thing they are grateful or thankful for that day and drop it in the jar. Your kiddos can also practice their writing if they are old enough, and you can keep their thankful notes as a keepsake to look back on.

We are keeping the jar where everyone can see it, as a daily reminder to be happy for everything we have.

Make a Thankful Garland

On Thanksgiving, we plan to do as the parents.com idea suggests, and put up each “note of gratitude” from our jar of thanks by clothespin, and make a thankful garland to hang over our buffet table.

You can even use inexpensive fall foliage garland from Michael’s to dress up your garland to make it look fall festive. I found cooking twine works great to hang the clothespins on and it fits with the look as well.

Crafty, practical and adorable, all while teaching a lesson of gratitude.  Love it!  Thanks parents.com!

How do you and your family talk about being thankful?  Any fun crafts to share in honor of Thanksgiving?  Please comment below!