Raising
Special Kids is Changing to My Special Kids
Raising Special Kids site is coming down soon - by the end of the
month, but don't worry, I am putting together a brand new site from
Raising Special Kids - and because that brand is already in use by www.raisingspecialkids.org,
I am
changing my site to www.my-special-kids.com.
I will have the index page up and will rewrite and post the pages as I
go along, updating and adding new information and experiences. Stay
tuned!
The Thankful
Tree
Family Holiday Activities
The Thankful Tree an activity where you can involve the whole family
that they not only will enjoy, but is certainly a fun way to promote
positive thinking and being grateful for what you do have.
Our family is making our tree this year, and I am telling you,
it really makes you think about things! Anielei reminds us every night
"We need to do the Thankful Tree!"
The Thankful Tree
Essentially, the idea is this:
Cut a tree shape with bare branches out of construction paper. We used
one branch for each one in the family, but you can divide up your
Thankful Tree any way you wish. (Glue or tape the 8 x 11 sheets
together to make bigger sheets to cut the tree shape, if you need to...)
Then, we had the kids cut out leaves from colorful construction paper.
We used fall colors (orange, brown, red, yellow and green) and did
about 3 different leaf shapes.
We put the tree up on the wall in the front room (where everyone can
see it) and every night before bedtime, the whole family sits down and
everyone picks a leaf. Then we all take turns saying what we are
thankful for.
Write it down on the leaf (we use a black Sharpie so you can read it)
and then glue the leaf to the appropriate branch on the tree.
You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want - or in
proportion to the level of the fine motor skills of your kids! Just
make it fun!
The Rules
We have our own rules for the Thankful Tree, and I am sure you can come
up with what works for your family. Our rules are: one leaf per family
member for every day of the month of November, and it has to be a noun
(person, place or thing), or an activity - and no repeats.
That's about it. Oh -
everyone has
to participate every day.
This is a fun way to bring the whole family together and really
discover there are a lot more things to be thankful for than you first
realized! It promotes unity, gratefulness, and teaches positive
thinking. And it lasts a whole month!
The kids really enjoy this family activity and are really getting into
coming up with things they are thankful for. Cosette even got hooked
and started coming up with other "trees". She said "we can do a tree
for Christmas with winter things on it, and we can do a New Years tree
with everyone's New Years resolutions, and for Easter..."
Credit
I would love to take credit for this, but actually, my wife found this
posted on one of her homeschool groups and can't find it now, of
course. So, if you are reading this - Thanks! (Send
me a line and I will be sure to give you proper credit).
If you have ideas, like the Thankful Tree, for family
activities, or activities just for your child with special needs, let
me know. You can tell me about your activities here: Contact
Us
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