10 Days of Thankfulness Craft: Heartwarming Thank You Notes for Our Kids

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There’s a lot of reasons you’re thankful for your kid, right?

If I asked you to come up with 10 things your child does that you’re thankful for, could you?

And how often do you share and express gratitude with your son or daughter?

Not often enough? 

Yea, me neither. 

This is why I started doing this simple craft. Well, that and one of my kid’s love languages is words of affirmation, so seeing words of kindness written about himself ignites all the warm and fuzzies.

So every year, our kids look forward to this Thanksgiving craft.

Here’s how it works!

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How to do this Heartwarming Thankfulness Craft

On the tenth day before Thanksgiving, the kids wake up to find a thank you note on their door. The note includes one reason we’re thankful for them or one thing that they do that makes us feel thankful.

Each day they wake up and discover a new note on their door. The last note is given on Thanksgiving. 

It’s a creative way to say thank you and it gets us thinking about and expressing gratitude. It’s now a tradition in our house! But here’s a secret: You can even do fewer days if you’re short on time!

Ready to start this simple and sweet thankfulness craft? Here’s what you need…

1. Plan Ahead.

Remember, the thank you notes to kids are on their doors 10 days before Thanksgiving. Not after. So that means you may want to mark your calendar to remember when to start.

If you’re reading this and it’s less than 10 days, or you don’t want to do this for 10 days, feel free to do five days, or even three. Your children will be surprised and excited regardless.

2. Find Fall Shapes for Thank You Notes.

One year I used leaf stickers for this thankfulness craft, but as my kids started to read on their own, those were too small for them to read. Plus, they were a pain to take off of the doors.

So instead,  I started tracing my thank you notes on various shapes of fall cookie cutters (pumpkin, squirrel, acorn, turkey, and various leaves) on construction paper. You can free-hand your shapes, see if your local craft store has pre-cut shapes, or download this FREE printable and use the cut-outs I’ve created! 👇👇👇

3. Prepare Shapes.

If you trace your shapes or draw them free-hand, do it ahead of time so you aren’t cutting out shapes every night for 10 days. (It’s tedious. Trust me. I’ve done it.)

I also prepare a shape for the top of the display that holds the title for the thankfulness craft. I like using some fall-colored construction paper. The reds, browns, yellows, and oranges make their doors look like another festive Thanksgiving decoration in our house.

4. Brainstorm Ideas to Express Gratitude.

Does your kid help take out the trash? Does she brush your hair while you read to her at bedtime? Or are you thankful for the way he snuggles with you whenever you need a hug?

Take your time pondering all the reasons you’re thankful for your kid(s). Try to be as specific as possible so it’s clear to them what you mean. Plus, the next time they’re doing whatever it is that you wrote you’re thankful for, they’ll remember your message and feel appreciated because they were recognized for it.

5. Stay Organized.

It’s important to keep track of all of your thank you notes. Not only so you don’t accidentally make a duplicate, but because if you have more than one kid, this can get tricky. Siblings are bound to feel a bit of rivalry or jealousy.

I try to balance what I say when coming up with my sentiments. For example, after writing out my 10 days of thank you notes to kids, I put them in a spreadsheet (like the one shown in this similar Valentine’s Day Craft) next to each other and try to match up any that are similar. So, if I notice that each of them has a note about doing work around the house, I’ll post those notes on the same day. If they all have a note about school, I’ll post those on the same day. So far, this has proved successful for us.

6. Write it Down.

Once you have your paper and your 10 messages that show your gratitude, you can start writing! Write legibly so little eyes and early readers can sound out your words.

I usually start with my title paper. I write “We’re thankful for you because…” And then each note completes the sentence. For example, “You persevere through hard things.” Or, “You give us big good morning hugs.” Or, “You like making new friends.” After you write your thank-you note on the fall cutout, be sure to cross it off your list so you don’t write it again!

7. Display Your Note.

Wait for your kids to fall asleep. Then grab one of your notes and roll up a bit of painter’s tape on the back so it will stick to the door but can easily be removed later. Place it on their door, and then go catch some Zzzs.

8. Watch and Enjoy.

The next morning, wake up and watch your child’s reaction as they 1. Are surprised by something on their door, and 2. Feel valued and confident after reading the positive message.

Watching your kid beam with pride (and maybe a little embarrassment, as the feeling of being recognized may be overwhelming to some) will give you even more reasons to be thankful this holiday season.

Final Thoughts on this Thankfulness Craft

As parents, we can think of a million things that make our kids special. And we’re thankful that we get to witness each of those extraordinary traits that make them who they are. But sometimes our lives get busy and we forget—or simply don’t get a chance—to express gratitude.

And this craft is a creative way to say thank you and make our kids feel special.

What would you write on your thank you notes to kids? Please share three reasons you’re thankful for your kid(s) in the comments below!

I’d also love to see how your 10 Days of Thankfulness Craft turned out! Tag me on Instagram so I can see your display!

Stay mindful, even when your mind’s full.
~Chelsea

P.S. If your kids dig this Thanksgiving craft, and you don’t want to wait until next year to do something similar, I do this for Valentine’s Day, too!