Character Essentials®: We Are Thankful

Throughout November, our Character Essentials^® theme is We Are Thankful. During this time, we encourage children to recognize the many good things in their lives. This includes learning the value of saying “Thank You” and how it makes other people feel appreciated, as well as the importance of showing gratitude when receiving gifts.

Some ways to practice thankfulness at home include:

Showing a picture of people in your child’s life and talking about how thankful you are for them. You can even describe ways they’ve helped your child, so they feel more involved.
As a family, sit down and talk about things that make you happy. You can create a “Family Appreciation Tree” where each member of the family writes or draws a picture of something that makes them happy on a leaf. This can also be done as a simple conversation around the kitchen table.
Participate in a day of giving. Choose an organization, charity, or business that your family can volunteer for or donate to. Taking the time to help and give to others reminds us to be grateful for what we already have.