Read a Story, Make Place Mats for Thanksgiving

This is the first post in my Kids Are Thankful blog hop. We'll be helping kids understand the season with Thanksgiving story books and fun crafts & activities to go with them.

A Thanksgiving story book recommendation plus a DIY placemat craft for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary aged kids.

My children didn’t used to like Thanksgiving. I remember being surprised a few years ago when Liam loudly expressed his disapproval of the holiday.

“How could you not like Thanksgiving?” I asked him. “There’s all that yummy food, and we get to spend time with family, and feel thankful.”

As we talked, I came to see it from his point of view.

Weird, unfamiliar food.

Lots of boring adult talk.

Mommy too busy in the kitchen to play with him.

He wasn’t really getting much about the meaning of the day, either.

Kids & Gratitude

So I made some changes. I planned side dishes that each child knew and loved. I got them involved in the preparations. And we did some kid-friendly activities aimed at helping them understand gratitude.

I knew we needed to keep it concrete. Being thankful doesn't come naturally. We work so hard giving kids a routine, and being consistent and dependable, that it's hard for them to imagine anything different.

Bear Says Thanks

(Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)

Stories have so much power to teach, if they're done well.

Bear Says Thanks (affiliate link), by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman is done exceptionally well.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, this simple, beautifully illustrated picture book is about a bear who wants to host a feast. Except his cupboard is bare.

One by one, his friends show up with various dishes to share. To each of them, Bear says “thanks.” In the end, they spread out a quilt on the floor of bear’s den, and sit down to eat together.

The story is simple enough for preschoolers, yet my 6-year-old kindergartners enjoyed it too. It would pair well with a story about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.

Most importantly, it shows a character being grateful in a way that young children can understand. There's more to learn, but it's a comfortable place to begin.

A Craft to Extend the Story

The craft I've created doesn't have anything to do with gratitude. Rather, it's an extension of the story as a way to remind kids about it.

The quilt that the bear and his friends eat on inspired me. I like to make homemade Thanksgiving place mats with the kids every year. A paper "quilt" place mat would be perfect.

At ages 6 and 9, they're getting too big for turkey hand prints (although I'm sure we'll do some anyway). And I wanted something prettier for the kids' table this year.

Materials Needed

Scrapbook paper or other paper in at least 2 colors
Scissors or paper cutter
Ruler
Pencil
Clear re-stickable contact paper

Instructions

1. Cut the scrapbook paper into 3-inch squares. Be as precise as you can, as that will make assembly easier.

2. Have child lay out the squares in a pattern that is 3 squares tall by 5 squares long. (If needed, draw a grid for him or her to follow.)

3. Cut off a sheet of the contact paper a little bigger than the assembly of squares.

This is with the backing already removed and
slid underneath so we can see the grid.

4. Peel off the contact paper and lay it sticky side up on top of the backing you just removed. Fold the short sides under to hold it in place on top of the grid from the backing.

5. Help child lay squares face up onto the contact paper.

6. Cover with second sheet of contact paper and trim excess.

Talk About Being Thankful

Once the place mats are ready to use, they will be a steady reminder of the story. Strike up a kid-friendly discussion about it at your Thanksgiving dinner. Start a tradition of turkey day being fun for kids. Even if the food is weird.

Update: You may find these links useful. {affiliates}