HomemadeDisciples

Faith, Discipleship, Family

Thanksgiving Activities: The Thankful Jar

If you’re looking for thanksgiving activities or ways to raise thankful kids, you’re definitely going to want to give the Thankful Jar a try!

This is something I’ve wanted to do for years. I’m finally getting the chance this year though it seems to be more of a necessity than a desire. Our family has been going through a tough season and it’s easy to miss what God has blessed us with even through the hard times. This is our way of reminding ourselves what we can be thankful for this year.

recycled jar with a white and maroon label reading, "the thankful jar" laying on a pile of yellow leaves on a weathered wood background.

What is a Thankful Jar?

A thankful jar is simply a creative way to practice daily gratitude in this season. Each day, as a family we will write down at least one thing we are thankful for and place it in our Thankful Jar.

At the end of the month, we will have at least 31 things we have seen that God has blessed us with. We will be able to go into the Christmas season remembering all the blessings we have, not just all our unmet desires or gift ideas.

A thankful jar doesn’t need to be fancy. You can start with just a mixing bowl or an empty sauce jar and a few scraps of paper. But if you want to show off your family’s creative side, have your kids decorate your jar using paper, glue, glitter, ribbons, etc. You can decide how fancy or creative you want to be! Your kids may even ask to make this a regular among your thanksgiving activities every year!

What you need:

  • A Jar or bowl (mine is a recycled honey jar)
  • paper
  • scissors
  • craft sticks (optional)
  • marker/pens
  • Glue
a jar with the label, "the thankful jar" along with white paper, a box of craft sticks and scissors laying on a weathered wood picnic table.

What to do:

  1. make a label or decorate your jar. If you are using a bowl, simply tape a label to the rim of your bowl so your family knows what this bowl is for. For our label, I ran some ribbon through the label and glued it to the jar to add a little more embellishment (because I like when things are a little fancy).
  2. Cut strips of paper to write down what you’re thankful for. Optional: use craft sticks instead of paper – this gives your gratitude a nice rewarding “clink” sound when you drop it into the jar.
  3. Place your jar somewhere visible as a daily reminder to talk about and write down the blessings in your life. set aside a few minutes every day to talk with your family about your blessings. Ask your children at bedtime what they are thankful for. Talk about your blessings at dinner or breakfast – whenever you are together as a family.
  4. Make sure you take some time to pray as a family and thank God for His blessings in your life.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17, ESV

Want a bonus activity?

Add a bible reading plan for your family! Head over to my FREE Bible reading plans by clicking here. Download the Gratitude and Praise reading plan to walk through what the bible says about thanksgiving with your family.

Let me know, did you use this with your family?

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recycled jar with label reading, "the thankful jar" laying on a pile of yellow leaves.

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