Gratitude Tree Craft for Thanksgiving
This Gratitude Tree Craft for Thanksgiving is the perfect way to get the kids involved in crafting, decorating and learning about gratitude. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for and find ways to share it. This craft is totally family friendly and a great project to do together. Let’s make one using Oly*Fun from Fairfield World.
Materials Needed for a Gratitude Tree Craft for Thanksgiving
- Oly*Fun from Fairfield World in fall colors
- Scissors
- Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
- Kraft Card Stock
- Scissors
- Hole Punch
- Hemptique Hemp Cord
Gratitude Tree Craft Shared on FOX News Denver
It was so fun to share this project with the news team on FOX News Denver. Check out the segment HERE and let me know what you thing!
Directions for the Gratitude Tree Craft for Thankgiving
This project is so easy to make. To get started, plug your glue gun in so it can heat up.
Step One
Place branches in the recycled jar. They should be long enough to stick out the top to the height you like.
Step Two
Cut leaves out of the Oly*Fun about 3 inches long by 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide.
Step Three
Hot glue the leaves to the branches in the jar.
Step Four
Cut leaves from the card stock and hole punch them. Write the things for which you are grateful on the leaves.
Step Five
Use the Hemp Cord from Hemptique to tie the leaves to the branches of the trees.
Step Six
Cut strips of the Oly*Fun about 6 inches long and tie them together with hemp cord. Tie the “bow” around the jar to complete the Gratitude Tree Craft.
If desired, add fake foliage or additional branches to the jar to fill it up.
MORE Gratitude Crafts
Grab this free printable and create some more Thanksgiving fun.
Create a family gratitude journal.
Make some Scarecrow Munch Mix to eat while crafting.
Seven Reasons Kids Should Be Crafting
Practice Fine Motor Skills – Many craft projects require the use of fine motor skills to cut, tie knots, paint, color and even apply glue. Crafting provides a great opportunity to work on fine motor skills while creating works of art.
Build Self Esteem – Through the process of creating a craft project, a child works through a series of steps to make a masterpiece. The success of completing steps and having something wonderful to show for it has proven to build self esteem.
Create Community – Many craft projects that are done by kids in classrooms or groups collectively create a larger work of art. For example. When a group of kids create individual pumpkin crafts – once put together they have a patch. This creates community and inclusion.
Build Social Skills – While actively crafting, often times the fears and worries of talking with others subsides and children (of all ages) find themselves to be more social with those around them,
Promotes Individuality – Craft projects should allow children the opportunity to put their own style or mark into their work. There need to be choices available to successfully promote individuality. Some of these choices include picking colors, crayons vs colored pencils, cutting vs tearing paper and outlining.
Encourages Self Expression – Often times children will express their feelings and thoughts through simple drawing and works of art. Encouraging kids to draw in their journals and add their own elements to projects sometimes offers a release of feelings.
How To Involve Kids in DIY Projects
Do It Yourself projects are a great way to get the kids involved in making decorations. This gives them the opportunity to participate in what their environment looks and feels like – whether at home, school or camp. When kids have been included in the ideas and the creating, they have a sense of inclusion and importance, It is a way to have them learn that their vote counts.
If you are not aligned with your kid’s ideas for decorations because it’s not your look or style, don’t dismiss them. A good way to empower them to continue to express themselves is to allow them to have a large say in how they decorate their own space (bedroom or homework station). If you want to raise your kids to successfully be able to have a style of their own, it starts by giving them a say when they are little.
Cheers,
Laura