We are Thankful For
In- School Thanks for Giving Food Drive
Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at Pumpkin Delight School between November 4th and November 15th.
Making Owls with Shapes
Our Halloween Celebration
Parents at Teacher Curriculum- Nurturing Gratitude - Zero to Three
Here are some ideas on how to model gratitude and create family traditions that focus on values of thankfulness and generosity:
Show appreciation to your children. Slow down and observe more closely. You’ll see things you appreciate about your kids—then tell them! Appreciation can be an even more powerful motivator than praise. Sharing appreciation is a strong way to feel connected to one another.
Show appreciation for others. Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. Your children are paying attention to the way you treat others, whether it’s friends, neighbors, a teacher, or the cashier at the market. They hear your tone with the salesperson on the phone. You set a great example when you model kindness, generosity, and gratefulness in your own everyday interactions.
Use the word “grateful.” Children need to learn what this new word means. Explain that being grateful is noticing something in your life that makes you happy. “I’m grateful that it’s sunny today because it was raining yesterday.” Mention gratitude when you’re doing an everyday pleasant activity, like hanging out at the playground or eating watermelon on a hot day. Pause and say, “I’m so grateful for this day!” or “Wow, this is fun!” Your enthusiasm will be contagious.
Make a Thankful Tree. Cut a tree trunk from cardboard or construction paper. Tape to a wall or window and cut out some leaf shapes. Ask your child to think of something they are thankful for and write one on each leaf. Then tape the leaf to a branch. Add your own “thankful things.” Have your child ask family members what they’re are grateful for and add them to the tree.
Share stories of thankfulness, gratitude, and generosity. The titles below, for children from birth to five years old, focus on different aspects of these important values:
For Children Birth to 3 Years Old:
Biscuit is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Splat Says Thank You by Rob Scotton
Should I Share My Ice Cream by Mo Willems
For Children 3-5 Years Old:
Thankful by Eileen Spinelli
Being Thankful by Mercer Mayer
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss
Giving Thanks by Jonathon London
Don’t Say a Word, Mama/No Digas Nada, Mama by Joe Hayes
https://www.zerotothree.org/team/rebecca-parlakian/
Music and Motion at the West Haven Public Library
Dance, play instruments, and sign along with all your toddler friends!
No registration is required. Drop ins are welcome.
Contact asweeney@westhavenlibrary.org for more information
Sparkler App- Thankful Turkey Play Card Activity
Using the free Sparkler app, complete the Thankful Turkey Play card.
Instructions
1. Let’s create a Thankful Turkey. Put your hand on the paper and I will help you trace around it. Let’s draw a face
on the thumb and the fingers will be turkey feathers!
2. What are YOU thankful for? Our family? Friends? Food? Let’s write one thing on each finger.
3. Let’s color the turkey, cut it out, and hang it up!
Words To Use
Thankful - to be grateful
Grateful - to appreciate; to be glad about
Appreciate - to value highly
Trace - to draw a line around
Why
When Your child brainstorms things he/she/they are thankful for, it helps him/her/them think about and understand feelings.
Simplify
Help Your child think of things he/she/they is thankful for- give examples like food or family. Help Your child trace and cut
out the hand.
Stretch
Ask Your child to write 1-2 sentences about the things he/she/they is thankful for. Why is he/she/they thankful for these?
You can help spell words!