Gobble up a little gratitude with these fun printables!
Setup Time: Under 5 min
Activity Time: 10-15 min
Mess Level: Medium
There’s a lot for kids to love about Thanksgiving, like cranberry sauce and a break from school and watching the parade on TV. But it’s also a good time for them to take stock of all the people and things they’re thankful for.
That kind of empathy and ability to describe and share feelings are important aspects of building Character, one of the 5 C’s at the heart of the Begin Approach to helping kids thrive in school and life.
It can be easy for us (and our kids) to get caught up in what’s missing, what we don’t have, and what we can’t do. Sometimes fear, anxiety, or sadness overshadow the good things in our lives.
But practicing gratitude actually helps us stop these negative thoughts in their tracks. In fact, science shows us that practicing gratitude helps kids (and grown-ups) become more resilient, reduce anxiety, and even increase happiness!
Use these printables to help your child identify and share what they’re thankful for. You can jump in and get creative, too. After all, there’s plenty of gratitude to go around!
Activity #1: Gobblin’ Gratitude Turkey
What You Need
- This printable
- Scissors
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Construction paper
- Glue or tape
What to Do
- Print out this page.
- Have the kids cut out and color in their turkeys.
- Cut out pieces of construction paper to create feathers (or get creative and use painted handprints).
- Glue or tape the feathers to the back of each turkey.
- Together, write the things you’re grateful for on the feathers.
Activity #2:
Thanksgiving Thoughts Scavenger Hunt
What You Need
- This gratitude thought-starter printable
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Paper
What to Do
- Print out this page.
- Ask the kids to think about things they’re grateful for.
- Write or draw their thoughts in the boxes together.
- Talk about these things as you write. This is a great time to name feelings (“I am grateful for my favorite book because it makes me feel happy.”) and connect and show gratitude for one another, too!
More Ways to Build Character with Begin
At Begin, we understand how Character helps shape kids’ ability to get the best start to achieving their fullest potential. Our Learn with Sesame Street program guides them through building self-regulation, empathy, and more. They can play on their own in a fun app filled with research-backed games, stories, and songs, or watch original classes with Elmo and friends.
Check it out today, or try our Early Learner Program and see how our products can come together to help your kids build the skills that matter most.
