1. Gather your materials. You will need a grocery bag, ribbon, plain paper, markers, clothes pins, hot glue gun and glue, paint, cookie cutters or other stencils.
2. Draw various leaf shapes, either free hand or using stencils.on your grocery bag. Do one for each spot along your garland. I used cookie cutters!
3. Using the markers have your child color the leaves, we are doing this as well as painting just for added effect, feel free to skip one.
4. Have your child paint the leaves. We are using a sponge to paint, we haven’t sponge painted in a while, but don’t limit yourself use whatever you will most enjoy. Let dry
5. While your child is painting , lay 2-4 feet of ribbon face down on your counter, hot glue gun your clothes pins to it. Let dry.
6. Cut out ( or have your child if they can use scissors, even if it’s not perfect) the leaves.
7. Glue the leaves to the ribbon and clothes pins.
8. We aren’t done yet! Using the same stencil trace the leaf pattern on a stack of plain paper.
9. Cut out.
10. Add things you are thankful for on these pieces of paper from now until Thanksgiving, at dinner you can un clip these and share them. With toddlers ask them what things they think are special, or love. I am always scrambling to think of what I am thankful for , especially since at that point in the day I just want some wine! Also this will help teach your children about recognizing all we do have , all we have to be thankful about throughout the whole month not just on Thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving is also the day that I don’t big my husband about football one bit. I am so so so not a fan but I am trying not to be so angry while watching, or rather while doing something else while my boys watch. This book – although a board book was really enlightening and my son loved it too! Thanks to my husband’s coworker David who suggested it !