Growing Gratitude

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we’re entering the time of year when we’re encouraged to stop and consider all we have to be grateful for in our lives. There are so many fun activities preschoolers can do at home with their families to support their learning about thankfulness. This fun and exciting craft can help young children express their gratitude. Gather the following material and take a few moments to create a Gratitude Flower.

Materials:

  • Colored paper

  • Pen or writing material

  • Scissors, 

  • Glue or tape

  • Popsicle Stick

Here are the steps to creating your special Gratitude Flower:

  1. Start by cutting out a circle from colored paper. Yellow is a popular color for this piece since it will be the center of the flower, but you may choose whatever color you wish.

2. On the circle, write “I’m Thankful For …” or write your name or family name, or even an overarching thing you’re grateful for (i.e., “my family”).


3. Next, use a template or freehand cut to create flower petals. You can use several different colors for a bright and vibrant flower, or the same color for a more uniform looking flower.


4. On the flower petals, write down things you are grateful for. For younger children, they can draw pictures. These can be things like the sunny weather, having wonderful parents, time for self, supportive friends, or a promotion at work (or for little ones: playdates, friends, animals or items for comfort).

5. Glue or tape these petals to the center to create a flower. The bottom of the flower can be created with rolled paper or a popsicle stick. Get creative and use whatever materials inspire you. 

We hope this fun at-home activity is enjoyed by all! Research shows that developing feelings of gratitude can help you make friends, improve your physical health, improve your psychological health, enhance empathy and reduce aggression, improve your sleep, enhance your self-esteem, and increase your mental strength. That’s a lot of benefits!

Don’t forget to hang your flowers where you can see them each day- and use them as a reminder of all the people and things in your life that bring you joy.

James Acosta