Gratitude Leaf Tree

What you need

• Paper, a few sheets
• Kid scissors, 1 pair
• Crayons or markers, a handful
• Painter's tape, 1 roll
• Clear cups, 1 cup or envelope for leaves (optional)

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Put up a simple paper tree (a trunk and a few bare branches) on a wall or door at kid height. Use painter's tape so it peels off without lifting paint. Cut a small stack of leaf shapes from paper and keep them in a cup or envelope near the tree with something to write or draw with.

1. Draw a tree trunk with lots of branches on big paper.
2. Tape your tree to a wall where everyone can reach.
3. Cut a pile of leaf shapes out of paper. Make some big and some small. Ask for help if you need it
4. Pick one leaf for each person today.
5. Think quietly for a moment about one thing you are thankful for.
   Ask: What was the best little moment of your day?
6. Write or draw that thing on your leaf. Little ones can draw while a grown-up writes the words.
7. Tear off a small piece of painter's tape and stick your leaf onto a branch.
8. Come back each day and add leaves. Show a friend! How bushy can it get?
   Ask: Which leaf on our tree makes you smile the most?

Play it again

• Surprise leaf: write a thankful note about someone else in the family and tape it up for them to find.
• Color story: pick a leaf color for each kind of happy, like green for outside fun and red for hugs.
• Seasons tree: swap in orange, yellow and red leaves and watch the tree change through the week.