Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings and express gratitude. Celebrate the season of thanks all month long with this 30 Days of Gratitude Activities Calendar! Do these family gratitude activities with your kids and recognize the true meaning of the season of giving thanks!
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30 Day Gratitude Calendar
Are you looking for a special way to encourage gratitude in your family? Now is the perfect time to teach kids to be grateful and thankful. Thanksgiving is just one day we focus on gratitude, but you can promote gratitude all month long with your family. There are lot of fun gratitude activities you can with kids!
In the past, we have started this Gratitude Chalkboard Tradition every November 1st. We have also participate in a Random Acts of Kindness BINGO challenge.
However, this year, we are trying something new with the 30 Days of Gratitude Calendar.
Just like the 30 Days of Halloween Calendar last month, this gratitude calendar is intended to help you get in the spirit of the season. Do not feel like you need to do every single activity or that you need to do them in a particular order. You can look at the Gratitude Calendar as a family and decide which ones you will plan to do!
Family Gratitude Activities
Are you wondering how your family can practice gratitude? There are so many family gratitude activities you can do this month. Decide on the gratitude ideas that work best for your family and get started!
Start a daily gratitude journal.
One of the best ways to practice gratitude is with writing in a gratitude journal. You can get the kids started on a practice of daily journaling with some inexpensive journals! In this post, I share how to get your kids started on gratitude journaling.
Make a Gratitude Pumpkin
I love this idea from Southern State of Mind blog to make a Gratitude Pumpkin. This is such an easy gratitude idea and it does not cost a lot of money.
Pay it forward to someone in line behind you.
One of the easiest ways to make someone else’s day is to pay it forward. The next time you are in line for coffee or ice cream, consider paying for the person’s order behind you. Your kids will learn this simple act of kindness by seeing you do this sweet gesture.
To make it a family experience, consider deciding on a day or a place that you will pay it forward for other people.
Write a note to a family member telling them why you are thankful for him/her.
Sometimes it is easier to express gratitude towards someone else in writing. Ask each member of the family to write a note to someone else in the family. You may need to help kids get started but keep it simple. Just a few sentences on why you are thankful for the other person is all you need to make someone feel special.
Fill a box for Operation Christmas Child
One of our favorite ways to give at the holidays is through Operation Christmas Child. Your family will experience the importance of giving and helping others through this wonderful organization. It does not take a lot of money to put together a shoe box full of gifts for a child or family in need!
Be sure to check on the collection dates in your area because it is usually in early November.
Help a family member with a chore.
Little kids might not be able to come up with their own ways to help others. So, one simple way to teach gratitude and giving is to encourage them to help with family chores. Kids often learning by example, so if they see others helping out each other in the family, they will follow that lead!
Make a card for your teacher and bus driver.
Our teachers and bus drivers work so hard all year long. Help your kids express gratitude for those special people in their lives. Kids can make cards for their teachers and bus drives. For an extra treat, send the card with a small gift card for coffee or lunch.
Take a treat to a neighbor or friend.
The next time you make a batch of cookies, double the recipe and share some with your neighbors! It is easy to get caught up in our own homes, but it is so nice to look outside and show appreciation for our good neighbors!
Set up a family appreciation jar.
Another great family gratitude idea is to set up a family appreciation jar like The Realistic Mama suggests. Leave slips of paper near a glass jar and let family members write notes of gratitude when the mood strikes. Then at the end of the month, when the jar is full, take the time to read each of the notes as a family.
Leave drinks and snacks for your mail carrier, UPS and Fed Ex drivers.
One of our favorite family gratitude activities to do around the holidays is to leave a bin of treats out for your delivery personnel and attach a note (you can find a free delivery driver treat note to use here)
The kids love seeing what snacks the delivery drivers like the most and then to make sure we restock the snacks often.
End the day sharing one thing you are thankful to everyone in your family.
One of our favorite dinner traditions most nights of the week is to share one thing we are each thankful for. It is an easy family gratitude activity. Plus, this activity can often lead to good conversations!
Read a book about gratitude/thankfulness
There are so many good books on gratitude and thankfulness. Younger kids will enjoy a picture book on thankfulness and older kids might like a family gratitude journal or a collection of stories on gratitude.
Learn the Art of a Good Thank You Note
In the age of e-mails and text messages, we often forget about the power of a good mailed thank you note! Spend some time teaching kids about the art of a good Thank You Note! A well written, mailed letter will never go out of style!
30 Days of Gratitude Activities Calendar
Are you ready to start the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge? Download the Family Gratitude Calendar and get started today! You will get 30 Days of Gratitude Ideas to do all month long.
You do not need to do the gratitude activities in order or necessarily do every single one of them. The purpose of this calendar is to help you promote and encourage gratitude with your family! So do some or all of the activities!
Thanksgiving Printables
Would you like more Thanksgiving Printables? Check out my friend Amanda, Miss Sue Living, as she is sharing a Thanksgiving printable that will help you get ready for the holiday!
Looking for more family gratitude activities? Check out these posts:
November 1st Gratitude Tradition
15 Meaningful Gratitude Activities to do With Kids
How to Start a Daily Gratitude Journal with Kids
Random Acts of Kindness Bingo Challenge
Love Love Love! Thank you for sharing Jaclyn- definitely starting this November 1st!
These are great ideas! Last year I tried a jar but no one added to it!