Remind your guests and family of the true meaning of Thanksgiving by making a DIY thankful tree with real fall leaves this year. Creating and decorating a thankful tree is one-way families can cultivate an attitude of gratitude during the holidays.
Creating and decorating a thankful tree with real autumn leaves is a gratitude craft and activity that both kids and adults will enjoy. Write words of thankfulness and gratitude on real fall leaves that are then placed on the tree to decorate it.
Related: 40 Thanksgiving Gratitude Crafts and Activities
If you want to learn how to make the sweet little turkey leaf lanterns on the table click on the link.
How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving
There are many ways to use a thankful tree to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in the home. Some families put them up at the beginning of November so that each family member can write what they are thankful for on a leaf each day.
Others use them as a centerpiece for their Thanksgiving table where all the guests are encouraged to decorate the tree before the holiday meal. They also look wonderful when displayed on nature tables.
Creating and decorating one is an activity that the whole family will enjoy.
Related: How to Make a Gratitude Tree with Clay Gratitude Leaves
Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving: Supplies
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- Vase
- Sand and/or pebbles
- Bare branches [We used fallen branches from the oak tree in our backyard. Go on a nature hunt to find your own, or purchase willow, or lighted branches.]
- We used several different kinds of real preserved fall leaves. You can also use paper, DIY clay or silk leaves.
- Autumn colored Pom Poms (I picked out the warm fall colors from this pack)
- Glue gun
- Brown or wood grain washi tape
- Paint pens
Related: Turkey Leaf Lanterns
How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Fall Leaves
1. Arrange branches in a vase.
2. Pour sand and/or pebbles around branches to add weight the vase so it stays upright.
3. Use glue gun to stick pom poms on the tree. (optional)
Little ones love helping with this. I stuck glue dots on the branches with a glue gun while my daughter stuck the pom poms onto the tree.
4. Write what you are grateful for on leaves to decorate the tree.
As mentioned above, you can write something you are thankful for each day or leave it to decorate with your guests on Thanksgiving. Our family does both! Alternatively, you can make marbled clay gratitude leaves to decorate your tree with.
Related: Gratitude Books for Kids that Inspire Thankfulness
Use paint pens to write on real preserved fall leaves placed in a basket set near the tree. If your child is not writing yet, write what they are thankful for on the leaf for them. Then invite them to decorate the leaves in whatever way they wish.
If your child is not writing yet, write what they are thankful for on the leaf for them. Then invite them to decorate the leaves in whatever way they wish.
Attach them to your thankful tree with brown or wood grain Washi tape. Easy peasy.
Update: The “THANKFUL” leaf above has been preserved for over a year. I pulled it out of last years leaf box and it was still vibrant red! Click on THIS link above to learn how we did it!
Making and decorating a thankful tree for Thanksgiving is a fantastic opportunity to discuss the concept of gratitude with your child. Reading Gratitude Books for Kids That Inspire Thankfulness also helps children learn about the concept of thankfulness.
Related: Top 10 Fall Nature Crafts
Click on the link to learn how to make the sweet little turkey leaf lanterns on the table.
Remind your guests and family of the true meaning of Thanksgiving by making a DIY thankful tree with real fall leaves this year. Creating and decorating one with autumn leaves is a gratitude craft and activity that both kids and adults will enjoy.
For more awesome ideas check out our Top 10 Thankful Trees round up.
You May Also Like:
- 40 Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities and Crafts
- Turkey Leaf Lanterns
- Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
- Fall Leaf Lacing
- DIY Butterfly Tree
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We’ve been making thankfulness trees since our first year of marriage half a decade ago! I love your Pom Poms! Cute addition. We just posted about our tree on our site at the beginning of November too! I’m so glad someone else enjoys a tradition like this! We have such good memories from looking through the blessings Thanksgiving Day!
We just started doing a Thankful Tree last year. We did it with real fall leaves and paint pens like this year, but no pom poms. Those were an addition this year. They make the tree even more lovely. 🙂
Hi Nell,
This is such good idea. I loved it… And I have included your this post in my ’15 Awesome Gratitude filled Thanksgiving Ideas’ blog post. Do come over and check it out!