Get your kids thinking about the many things they have to be grateful for with this simple printable Thanksgiving alphabet activity!
As we head into the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to teach our kids the importance of gratitude. If your kids are like mine, they have OODLES of blessings to count. They’re really good at naming the obvious ones: family, friends, teachers…and those are good! But it can also be helpful to push kids beyond their first ideas and challenge them to think outside the box when considering the things they’re thankful for.
That’s where this free printable Thanksgiving Alphabet Activity can help!
It’s a simple activity that invites kids to create a list of things they are thankful for, one for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a great way to foster a sense of gratitude and get the whole family involved in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Download the free printable and let’s jump right in! Click the button below:
We did this activity as a family at the beginning of November as a way to kick off our month of Thanksgiving. I turned it into a game (kind of like Scattergories) and challenged my family to write down as many things they’re grateful for as they could think of in three minutes. I thought my boys might complain about the writing that it would require, but they actually jumped right in and got really excited about the activity.
After the time was up (I gaved them one bonus minute because everyone needed more time), we all went around and shared our answers, one letter at a time. Sure, some of them were silly, but we also had some really sweet, thoughtful answers, like Dad for “D” and Jesus for “J”.
Not only was it a great way to express gratitude, it was also great for building creativity and logical reasoning skills as they explained their answers. For example, despite my skepticism, my son made a valid argument in favor of being grateful for vultures. They’re important to healthy ecosystems!
At the end of the activity, we talked about how feeling gratitude is a good first step. The next step is to express that gratitude, especially to those we are grateful for. For the rest of the month, we’re going to brainstorm and take action on simple ways we can do just that!
Ready to play? Here’s everything you need to know:
A to Z Thanksgiving Alphabet Activity
How to Play:
- Download the Free Printable: To get started, simply click the download button above and print out the Thanksgiving Alphabet Activity sheet. You can also find it here if you prefer.
- Gather Your Supplies: You’ll need some colored pencils, markers, or crayons to make this activity even more fun for the kids.
- Write Down What You’re Thankful For: Encourage your child to think of something they’re thankful for that starts with any letter of the alphabet. You can go in order, or jump around. For example, “A” could be “Animals,” “B” might be “Books,” and so on.
- Share and Reflect: Once your list is complete, talk about it! If you’re doing this activity with multiple family members, encourage everyone to share their ideas. It’s a great opportunity to discuss gratitude and reflect on the many things for which you’re all thankful.
More ways to use this activity:
- Make it a Game! Set a timer (I recommend 3-5 minutes) to write down as many things each person can think of that they are grateful for (kind of like the game Scattergories)…one for each letter of the alphabet. When time is up, share your answers! If you’re playing with an older group, you can assign points for each answer that is unique (not repeated by another player). I opted to leave out the points because my boys tend to get a *little* too competitive.
- Daily Thanksgiving Countdown: Start the activity a few weeks before Thanksgiving and have your child complete one letter each day. This would be especially good for young children who might not have the attention span to do it all at once. Kids could also draw a picture to go with their gratitude letter each day!
- Gratitude Journal: If your child enjoys this activity, encourage them to continue it as a gratitude journal. You can add new pages whenever they think of something new to be thankful for.
- Virtual Thanksgiving: If you have family or friends who can’t be with you in person for Thanksgiving, share the completed pages with them virtually. It’s a lovely way to connect and share the spirit of gratitude across distances.
- Don’t just say it, show it! Use this activity as a starting discussion to brainstorm ways that your family can take action to show gratitude for the people and things that matter to you. Is your child grateful for grandparents? Send them a card expressing your love! Grateful for food? Donate some to those who are less fortunate.
By involving children in this creative and thoughtful exercise, you’re not only fostering an attitude of thankfulness but also creating lasting memories during this special time of year.
Download the activity sheet, start a new tradition, and watch as your family’s gratitude grows with each letter of the alphabet. Happy Thanksgiving!
I would love to hear about your experiences with this activity and any unique ways you use it in your Thanksgiving celebrations. Share your experience in the comments below, and tag me on Instagram!
Want more Thanksgiving activities for kids? Try these:
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