Give thanks this Thanksgiving, and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in the home, office, or classroom with the thankful tree tradition.
A thankful tree, otherwise known as a gratitude tree, is a Thanksgiving tradition that can help cultivate an attitude of gratitude in the home or classroom. Use any of these thankful tree ideas to incorporate the thankful tree tradition into your Thanksgiving celebrations. A gratitude tree serves as a reminder of everything that we have to be grateful for.
Use any of these easy gratitude tree craft ideas or gather inspiration to learn how to make a thankful tree for Thanksgiving. Please invite friends and family to share what they are most thankful for with these Thanksgiving tree ideas. You may also enjoy Thanksgiving Traditions and Fun Things to do for Thanksgiving.
Give thanks, and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in the home, office, or classroom, during the holidays with the Thanksgiving thankful tree tradition.
Learn all about Thanksgiving trees, and, how to design your own Thanksgiving gratitude tree with these fun Thanksgiving ideas.
A Thanksgiving thankful tree can be used as a Thanksgiving advent, as a centerpiece, wall decor, and more. Simply invite family and friends to write what they are most thankful for on a gratitude ornament, and place it on the tree to decorate it.
Making and decorating a gratitude tree is a fun Thanksgiving tradition that the whole family can enjoy. As a bonus, gratitude trees make lovely autumn DIY home decor and make a meaningful centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table.
How to Use a Thankful Tree as a Thanksgiving Advent
If you would like to use your thankful tree as a Thanksgiving advent, put your gratitude tree craft up before Thanksgiving.
Write down what you are most thankful for onto one gratitude ornament each day, and hang it on your thankful tree. Invite your friends and family to join you!
How to Use a Thankful Tree an Interactive Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Make and decorate a thankful tree to cultivate an attitude of gratitude at the Thanksgiving table this year.
Invite dinner guests to write what they are most grateful for on thankful ornaments, and, decorate the thankful tree as they wait for Thanksgiving dinner to be served.
Use a gratitude tree as a conversation starter, and, a way to honor the true spirit of Thanksgiving. To give thanks for an abundant harvest and all of life’s blessings!
Try this new Thanksgiving tradition this year with any of these creative Thanksgiving decor ideas. There are many ways to design and use a thankful tree craft for Thanksgiving.
Below you will find a few of our favorite examples, from creative and crafty, to kid-made. You can even make a thankful tree with real fall leaves!
Learn how to make a DIY thankful tree with any of these fun Thanksgiving ideas!
1. Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving with Clay Gratitude Leaves
When we are grateful for what we have, we will be given more of what we are grateful for. Creating and decorating a tree with hand stamped marbled clay autumn leaves is a gratitude craft and activity that kids and adults can enjoy together. (Thankful tree with gratitude leaves.)
2. Thanksgiving Thankful Trees Made with Real Fall Leaves
These great paint pens make it easy to write what you are grateful for on each leaf before attaching it to your thankful tree.
Creating and decorating a thankful tree with real autumn leaves is a gratitude craft and activity that both kids and adults will enjoy. Invite friends and family to write what they are most grateful for on preserved fall leaves and then place them on the tree to decorate it. (How to make a thankful tree with real leaves.)
…it is beautiful to see people give thanks, counting how many ways God has blessed them. And for each and everyone of us living and breathing, that list is unending.
One way we display reminders to cultivate a thankful heart is with a thankful tree. This year instead of scrapbook paper we are using wooden chalkboard tags.(source)
4. Make a Thankful Tree for Your Celebration Centerpiece | Lia Griffith
This gratitude tree uses willow branches painted gold and a free printable leaf pattern. You can also use a Thankful tree display for this fall home decor project.
For your Thanksgiving centerpiece this year, why not make it an interactive arrangement? That’s right, a Thankful Tree with leaves leaves printed, trimmed and ready for your guests to share their gratitude. Once they have added their sentiment they simply tie their leaf or leaves onto the centerpiece branches. (source)
5. Thankful Tree Thanksgiving Tradition
Here’s a simple thankful tree made with paper leaves and willow branches. Simple and lovely fall home decor filled with gratitude.
Give thanks in a new way this holiday season. Invite friends and family to share what they are most thankful for by creating a thankful tree that can take center stage throughout the Thanksgiving holiday. (source)
6. Thankful Tree Printable | Craftionary
Here’s a thankful tree printable with paper leaves. This Thanksgiving tree includes a “Give Thanks” printable. You can also use this thankful tree poster pack!
A thanksgiving craft for family and kids to give thanks. This is a very easy project and involves only a few colorful papers and a pen. And you can start writing and displaying what you are thankful for! (source)
7. How to Make a Thankful Tree | The Happy Housewife
There is so much to be thankful for, and there is something about writing it down and looking at it every day that makes it that much more real. Not to mention the cuteness it brings to the room! I love the idea of keeping our leaves from each year in a little box so we can look back at different years, remembering what we were thankful for at that time. Source
8. Thanksgiving Thankful Tree Tutorial | One Creative Mommy
For the last few years, we’ve spent Thanksgiving morning writing things we’re thankful for on simple Fall shapes. This year, I decided to turn it into a month-long tradition. Instead of listing what we’re thankful for all at once, we’ll add them to our tree all month long! (source)
Everyday in November, ask your kids what they are thankful for. Write it on a leaf. Place the leaf on the branches at the top of the tree. At the end of the month you’ll have a tree full of thankful thoughts! (source)
10. How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving | Our Goodwin Journey
This simple wall tree uses construction paper to create a gratitude tree. Trace handprint to make gratitude leaves to write upon.
If you don’t feel like making your own thankful tree craft, you can purchase one of these thankful tree kits instead! If you click to purchase, Rhythms of Play will earn a small commission at no cost to you.
A few of the thankful tree ideas below come complete with everything you need, while others you can use in combination with any of the ideas above or the thankful tree ornament ideas below.
Use any of these easy thankful ornaments for your thankful tree this year! If you need help coming up with words of gratitude to write on your leaves, try these gratitude prompts.
Give Thanks this Thanksgiving with the Thankful Tree Tradition
Remind your family and friends about the true meaning of Thanksgiving with a thankful tree. Try this new Thanksgiving tradition in your home, office or classroom this year.
Create a thankful tree for a Thanksgiving advent or Centerpiece for your guests to decorate. They are also a wonderful addition to a fall nature table.
Use any of these easy Thanksgiving tree ideas or be inspired to create your own thankful tree tradition!
My daughter loves to decorate trees so we make one every season. We decorate an Easter tree in the spring, a butterfly tree in the summer, a thankful tree in the autumn, and of course a Christmas tree in the Winter filled with handmade ornaments.
Learn how to begin creating rhythms and routines that keep everything in order and help the whole family THRIVE. Opt-in below, and we’ll send the QuickStart Guide straight to your email inbox!
Hi, I'm Nell--My goal is to make parenting, educating children, and life, in general, a bit less chaotic and a lot more fun! With over 25 years of experience working with children from infants to teens, and their parents, I'm here to help you raise creative outdoor kids, and create a life you LOVE–one rhythm at a time! Learn more…
Nice list…! This is a very helpful article you have shared. I know and get some information about Thankful Trees. I will be using this tree for my next Christmas. Great job and keep it up.
Thank you Martha! I’m so glad that you have enjoyed this collection and learning more about Thankful Trees. It would be fun to have a gratitude tree as a Christmas tree. Enjoy!
, scratch art leaves
, and more!
can also be used to make this tree decor
.
make it easy to write what you are grateful for on each leaf before attaching it to your thankful tree.
with chalkboard paint
.
painted gold and a free printable leaf pattern. You can also use a Thankful tree display
for this fall home decor project.
and willow branches
. Simple and lovely fall home decor filled with gratitude.
!
and paper maple leaves cut using a large paper punch
to make this easy DIY fall decor.
for the tree and paper maple leaves
. Another fun idea is to use a Thanksgiving door kit!
for the tree and laminated construction paper for the leaves. You can also use a large tree wall decal
with leaf-shaped sticky notes
!
Easy Thanksgiving Thankful Craft Kit
These are beautiful! Making a thankful tree is one of our traditions this time of year – they’re such a great way to focus on what we’re grateful for!
Love your site
Making a thankful tree is a tradition in our home during this season! Really like the chalkboard tree!
It’s the second year that we have made one. My family loves it and will continue the tradition. We may even add a garland next year. 🙂
It’s a little tradition in our society that will seamlessly transition you from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Yes, Rebekah! Very true 🙂
Nice list…! This is a very helpful article you have shared. I know and get some information about Thankful Trees. I will be using this tree for my next Christmas. Great job and keep it up.
Thank you Martha! I’m so glad that you have enjoyed this collection and learning more about Thankful Trees. It would be fun to have a gratitude tree as a Christmas tree. Enjoy!