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Small children love to be creative, helpful and thankful. Thanksgiving is a time they can accomplish all three. A Wreath of Gratitude is the perfect way for them to do this. It’s easy, fun and they can use them as place mats on your Thanksgiving table to be able to show off their work.

What You’ll Need

* Light colored construction paper
* Fine tip permanent marker
* Pencil
* Crayons and colored pencils
* Cling wrap
* Tape

Instructions

You may need to help your children accomplish this craft. First they need to start by learning how to place their hand on the construction paper and tracing their handprint. Once they have the first handprint down then they can continue around the paper until they have made a wreath of their hand prints.

Next, let your children be creative and color their hand prints. The best colors to use are browns, oranges, yellows and greens to signify the time of year. Maybe even a darker shade of red will work. This will keep with the theme of Thanksgiving also.

Next, using the fine tip marker write one thing your child is thankful for in each of the hand prints. For instance on the first one it might be Mom and Dad and so on until all the hand prints are filled in. If your child is old enough to write allow them to print the words on their own.

After the marker has dried, so it doesn’t smear, lay out a piece of cling wrap that is slightly larger than the piece of construction paper. Lay the construction paper upside down on the wrap. Pull the wrap up over the back of the paper. Use the tape to hold it in place.

Once last suggestion especially for those of who want to keep their children’s masterpieces: On the back of the construction paper, place your child’s name and the date. Now you have a placemat and a treasure that will last a lifetime.

Submitted by Christmas Fun

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