The holidays are almost here, which gives childcare providers and teachers a great reason to teach their young students how to give thanks.
Below are a few fun ideas you can incorporate into your classroom to encourage gratitude during the holiday season:
1. Decorate: Create a bulletin board encouraging students to give thanks. One option is to ask students to write down what they are thankful for on a turkey created by their hand and put them on display.
2. Create a game: One way to build a close-knit classroom environment is to give your youngsters an opportunity to play games that show their appreciation toward one another. For example, a game during circle time where all the students stand up and pass a ball around telling each other why they’re thankful for one another is not only fun, it also builds friendships and confidence!
3. Read stories about giving thanks: A few good books are Dr. Seuss’ “Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?”, Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree”, and William Steig’s Common Core-aligned “Amos and Boris”. These all can remind children just how grateful to be for life.
4. Lead by Example: Of course, always show your students and the young children you care for just how thankful you are for them no matter what time of the year.