A Thankful Countdown to Thanksgiving: Simple Ways to Teach Kids Gratitude and Praise

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Each November, many of us share our “25 Days of Thankfulness” on social media, honoring all the blessings God has bestowed on our lives. However, this gratitude practice should begin long before someone is old enough to have a digital presence. In fact, Scripture commands that we lead our prayers with a heart of thankfulness, praising Him for His providence and provision before we begin our list of requests. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

A heart posture of gratitude spiritually prepares us for continued blessings from God. I wonder how often I haven’t noticed significant, blatant gifts from Him because I was too concerned with grumbling and complaining about things I wanted or thought I needed. No doubt, my selfish tunnel vision has often blinded my heart to the goodness around me.

I've recognized my tendency towards complaining and allowing fears to curate prayers built on anything but gratitude. Now that I have a son, I’m even more aware of my need to refocus my prayer life so I actively praise God for His continued mercy and grace. As a parent, I must introduce simple gratitude practices, even for my toddler, who won’t sit still long enough to participate in anything too complex.

As a mama (and a gal with five years of nannying experience, working with three Christian families), I’ve discovered some gratitude practices that work well for all ages and easily foster a habit of thankfulness. If you’re looking for a fresh way to center your children’s hearts on gratitude this Thanksgiving, consider these festive, fun ideas:

1. Praise Pumpkin

One family I nannied for had a pumpkin they placed on their fireplace, and each day they let their two young girls (18 months and three years old) tell them one thing they were grateful for. The parents then wrote those things on the pumpkin with a marker. Truthfully, several things they were thankful for were hysterical, especially since the 18-month-old child had a limited vocabulary. Nonetheless, the parents shared with me that the girls were thrilled each morning to rush over to the pumpkin and present what they were grateful for that day. 

No matter the age of your kiddos, consider having a praise pumpkin in your home. You can place it on the fireplace, the kitchen table, the front porch, or wherever is best. Each day, let your children state one thing they are thankful for, or one thing they want to praise God for. 

I recommend that your family sit together for this activity, whether at breakfast, dinner, or before bedtime. Let the older kids write out their answers and even lead the activity for their younger siblings. We too easily forget the influence our older kiddos have on the littler ones, and we are even more neglectful in remembering that our tweens and teens should be placed in positions where they can lead, especially in a faith-based capacity. 

Meanwhile, parents must remember that gratitude is essential, even healthy, for the human mind and body. Telling our kids who they should be grateful to is even more critical. As James 1:17 states, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

When our children recognize the significance of daily gratitude and cultivate a heart posture of humility to God, they instill eternal peace that won’t falter, even on days when it seems hard to find anything to be thankful for. This faith-based habit will be needed as they grow up, when adult life comes with heavier responsibilities and realities. 

2. Gratitude Tree

I recently saw this idea of a gratitude tree, and I hope to try it with my two-year-old son this year (though he whittles most crafts/creative presentations into weapons). Go to your backyard, find a decent-sized branch with plenty of smaller limbs, or shop for a small fake tree at your local craft store. Make it a centerpiece for your dining room table or the focal point of another space in your home. (You will need to create a steady base for the tree so it stands upright and balances well.) 

Grab some fall-colored construction paper and cut out small leaves. Place the pile of leaves under the tree and let the children write down one thing they are thankful for each day. Take mini clothespins and pin the leaves to the small branches of the tree. 

Begin this practice on November 1st, and once Thanksgiving has arrived, your gratitude tree will be filled with bright leaves and the sweetest handwritten pieces of your child’s heart. On Thanksgiving Day, consider completing the gratitude tree by letting each family member add their leaf of thankfulness. 

3. “I Am Thankful for…” Tablecloth

It’s so impactful when a child witnesses their entire family coming together to praise God and thank Him. It’s a legacy that will settle in their hearts for a lifetime. I encourage you to create an “I Am Thankful for…” tablecloth for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration. (If Thanksgiving isn’t at your home, consider asking the host family if you can show up a few minutes early and decorate with your “I Am Thankful for…” tablecloth.) 

These tablecloths are simple to make—and cheap! You only need a paper bulletin board long enough to fit your table. Most people opt for the traditional brown color, but other fall colors are perfect. At each place setting, take a marker and write “I Am Thankful for…” and draw three numbered lines below, where each person can write three things they are grateful for this year. (If the kids are super excited, they can add fun designs, decorations, and borders however they please.)

After everyone is seated and has completed their list, circle and have each person share the three things they are most thankful for. Another option is using this as a prayer prompt. Before eating, everyone can go in a circle and thank God for what is on their list. 

This is an excellent way for children to witness each family member give audible thanks and praise to God. It’s an even better way for them to practice thanking God for His goodness in their lives. (And what a blessing it is to hear children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, share how they see God’s faithful hand in their lives!)

An Eternal Heart Posture

Thanksgiving was born from a historical meal when Pilgrims and Native Americans came together to celebrate surviving a brutal winter that left many without basic needs. Though the Native Americans didn’t practice Christianity, the Pilgrims used this opportunity to honor and praise God for His undeniable providence and provision, especially in a time of such loss and suffering. 

This Thanksgiving, no matter where life has taken you or what it has taken from you, I pray you remember that gratitude should be an eternal heart posture. It’s a continual focus on Christ as our Sustainer, who will lead us to eternal glory, where heartache and loss cease to exist. As parents, it is our honor and our command to train our children in this beautiful truth.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) 

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.