By Allyssa DelPiano, Marketing Specialist at Cayuga Centers
Looking for fun, no-cost or low-cost ways to make your fall more meaningful? We’ve put together 5 free printable Thanksgiving activities to help families express gratitude this season.
At Cayuga Centers, we are grateful for all the families we serve. What are you grateful for? Here is a fun way to celebrate all season long.
1. Start a new tradition: The Thanksgiving Tree!
Bring your gratitude to life! Write what you’re thankful for on paper leaves and hang them on your Thanksgiving Tree for a beautiful, growing display of thanks.
How to do this activity:
- Download and print ornaments: You can find the link at the bottom of this page
- Prepare your ornaments: Cut out ornament shapes on heavier stock paper.
- Write down your gratitude: Write something you’re grateful for on each ornament. Do this as a family! After you are done, punch a hole in the ornament and thread it with ribbon to make a bow then decorate your tree!
Share with visitors: When friends or family visit, invite them to add their own words of gratitude on an ornament. Then, add them to the tree! - Gather and reflect on Thanksgiving Day: Gather around your gratitude tree and feel the warmth of everyone’s messages.
- Preserve the memories: Save your ornaments for next year and keep building on your cherished memories!
2. Gratitude Reflections
Pause, reflect, and appreciate. This simple worksheet guides kids and adults alike to think about the people, moments, and things that make life special.
Sometimes the holidays can be difficult for youth adjusting to a new environment. It can also be stressful for everyone else in the household with added cooking, cleaning, shopping and activities.
When feelings of stress and worry start to creep in, take a moment to think about how you are feeling and ways to manage. Discuss this as a family and talk about how you can support one another.
How to do this activity:
- Download the printable worksheets at the bottom of this page
- Sit down with your family to discuss each of the categories and work through tough emotions that sometimes come with the holiday
- Adults can benefit from this exercise too!
3. Make a Gratitude Container
Turn thankfulness into a daily habit! Write notes of gratitude and drop them in your jar—then watch your jar fill up with positivity all season long.
How to do this activity:
- Find a jar or box.
- Grab some decorations like glitter, glue, markers and ribbon.
- Decorate the container.
- Optional: Print and download the gratitude prompt cards at the bottom of this page
- Every day, have each family member write 1 thing they are grateful for on small pieces of paper. It can be anything from making the soccer team to being grateful for the warmth of the sunshine.
- Put your gratitude in the container.
- Read them aloud on Thanksgiving day to remember all of the things – both big and small – that you have gratitude for.
4. Paint some Gratitude Rocks
Get creative with your thanks! Decorate rocks with words or images that represent what you’re grateful for, then place them around your home or garden as joyful reminders.
How to do this activity:
- Find some flat surface stones.
- Organize a paint station with acrylic paint, brushes, water and paper towels.
- Download and print the Gratitude Idea list at the bottom of this page
- Paint a rock with an image that reminds you of something you are grateful for. OR, paint words of gratitude on your rock!
- You can keep your rock with you every day to remind yourself of all you have to be grateful for.
5. Thanksgiving Day Parade BINGO
Make the big parade even more fun! Play Thanksgiving Parade Bingo with family or friends and celebrate the holiday with a playful, thankful twist.
How to do this activity:
- Download and print the BINGO cards at the link below
- Grab some pennies.
- Turn on the Thanksgiving Day parade on TV.
- When you see one of the items on the BINGO board, put a penny over it.
- The first person who fills in a full row across, down, or diagonally wins!
Which activity stood out to you? Download all the activity sheets at the link below.
If you complete an activity, feel free to tag us on our social media accounts!
