Thanksgiving is around the corner and my children are getting older now so I'd love to start traditions in our home that are special for them during this time. They are too young to help feed at a shelter, but wondered if anyone has any great traditions to help teach the message of thanksgiving?

We keep a small basket (with a lid) on the thanksgiving table with slips of paper to it's side. Throughout the day family members can write what they are thankful for on the slips. Younger ones can have someone write it for them, or simply draw a picture of what they're thankful for.

When it's time to eat, or after (just depends), each person reaches into the basket to read (out loud) what one is thankful for. They may draw their own or someone elses.

This is always a precious time, and no matter how hectic the day has been, or how mad one member is at another, this seems to calm everyone down for a bit. = )

HTH

i have seen something similar done as well....as well as a song/praise time...plus reading some scripture on giving thanks.

I like the 'thankful jar' idea. Cute.

I'll be watching for ideas myself. I always *want* to do more for T'giving and Christmas, it just never happens. For one reason or another, nothing ever happens. *shrug*

We usually have a Thanksgiving service at church sometime the week of Thanksgiving - often we have each family group do something - a skit, sing, read a poem, etc (we have a small church). One time we had a big blank piece of paper that covered one of the doors into the auditorium and people could write something they were thankful for on it with colored markers.
I'd love to hear some great ideas for getting across the meaning of Thanksgiving, too!
I just remembered, I think FamilyLife has a book written by Barbara Rainey about Thanksgiving, maybe with some celebration ideas?

along the same idea...we have a 'poster' type thing of a turkey. It has all the pretty colored feathers on it. I cut out colored feathers out of construction paper and each night after dinner the week leading up to Turkey Day, we write something we're thankful for and tape it up on the poster turkey. We hang it in a location where we can see it throughout the week. It's a great reminder each time we walk past it...