Gratitude Art Making

It is important to talk to children about gratitude year round, but the topic always makes an appearance at school and at home in time for Thanksgiving. While very young children will be too young to understand the complexities of Thanksgiving (check out this post from Cup on Jo on talking to kids about the holiday and its history), discussions of gratitude and thinking about what they are thankful for are important ideas to explore. Dive into these open ended gratitude art making activities that are perfect for the holidays or any time of year—no handprint turkeys here!

Thankful Cards

Make thankful cards using a collagraph printmaking technique to tell friends and family how grateful you are for them. You'll need:

• cardboard pieces, felt, pipe cleaners, and any other textured items you want to use.

• tape or glue

• stamp pad or paint

• paper for your card

Steps

• Tape or glue cardboard pieces, pipe cleaners, and felt shapes to a larger piece of cardboard to create your stamp

• Press your stamp in ink or paint and press onto your card.

• Write a message!

Gratitude Trees

Create a tree of things you are grateful for using the stamp you made. You'll need:

• Your collagraph prints

• scissors

• foraged sticks

• hole punch

• string

• drawing materials

Steps

• Cut your prints into the shape of a leaf

• Punch holes in your leaves.

• Write or draw things you are grateful for on each leaf.

• Use the string to attach the leaves to your sticks.

• Place in a vase or jar and add in additional leaves.

This is a fun art making activity kids can lead for the whole family at Thanksgiving!