Teaching kids to be thankful for their toys, family, gifts, food, life – is sometimes an impossible. Gratitude is a learned behavior, which is no easy task. BUT, I’ve found a ridiculously simple holiday tradition that teaches gratitude & EVERY family can do with little effort. Plus, this sweet DIY Fall Centerpiece makes an amazing (virtually effortless) display for your Thanksgiving table!
Even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body—this is doable even for you!
This easy DIY gratitude pumpkin (or the “thankful pumpkin”) is the perfect fall centerpiece to keep the family focused on gratitude this Thanksgiving!
What You’ll Need
Pumpkin (any color–we’ve used white & orange–just needs to be somewhat smooth)
Sharpie (any color—we’ve used black & metallic)
What You’ll Do
Each day, everyone in the family writes something on the pumpkin that they’re grateful for that day. I’ve done this in the mornings with breakfast and in the evenings with dinner. Both have worked, but it really just depends on your schedule.
Start at the top of the pumpkin by writing, “We are grateful for…” and continue in a spiral around the pumpkin each day. Keep this practice up throughout the month until Thanksgiving.
Ultimately, the pumpkin will have a giant spiral of gratitude around the outside. All filled with things your family is grateful for this year.
What’s the Benefit of Gratitude?
Teaching kids gratitude is not always as easy as one would think. That’s why this little nugget of a tradition is so freaking beautiful. Because, at the end of the month, you seriously feel like you’ve accomplished an amazing feat!
You get to take a moment and count the blessings in your life, and you get to see that you’re actually teaching your kids not to be total A-holes. It’s a beautiful thing!
Plus, by teaching your kids gratitude, they may turn out to be more positive kids with a sense of connection to the world around them. They actually start to understand that they aren’t the center of the universe!
DIY Gratitude Pumpkin Centerpiece
By planting the seeds of gratitude each day, you’re teaching your kids to pause and be thankful for everything and everyone in their lives. Who knew a pumpkin and a sharpie had such power?
My absolute favorite thing about this craft is reading it. Right before Thanksgiving dinner, everyone in the family takes turns reading messages off the gratitude pumpkin. Sweet, easy, and meaningful.
**Go the extra mile: start this practice October 1st. Milk pumpkin season for all it’s worth!
If you’re looking for other ways to keep the kids (and you!) focused on gratitude this holiday season, then check out these fun family practices!
Want to remember this? Post DIY Fall Centerpiece “Thankful Pumpkin” to your favorite Pinterest Board!
