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Hey Bestie’s Thanksgiving Day Printables
What are you thankful for? In Bestieville, it’s friendship.
Thanksgiving is a major holiday here in the world of Hey Bestie dolls! Also known as Friendsgiving, it’s a time when all the dolls come together and celebrate life’s greatest treasures. (Like pumpkin pie, big hugs, and slumber parties!)
To thank YOU for your friendship, we’ve put together a bundle of free Thanksgiving Day printables that focus on gratitude. Loaded with wholesome coloring pages and fun little games, this Thanksgiving printable is a great way to keep kiddos busy during the hustle and bustle of this great holiday. Print it and share it with your little ones!
What is gratitude?
(For kids!)
Gratitude is the feeling of thankfulness for what you have. It’s a warm and happy feeling that is often shown by saying “thank you!”
We can feel gratitude for all kinds of things, big and small. Chocolate cake, Mom and Dad, pretty pink sunsets, best friends, kitty cats, and our comfy beds at home are just some of what comes to mind for us at Hey Bestie.
Practicing gratitude means looking for those happy feelings and acknowledging them. You can do this by using words, writing your feelings down, or expressing your gratitude through your actions—like doing nice things, offering a hug, smiling, and giving high fives.
Use our free Thanksgiving printables to start practicing!
The Benefits of Gratitude
So what makes gratitude so special, anyway? Practicing gratitude can not only lift your spirits but train your thoughts to be more positive. This, over time, has a great impact.
Here are some of the benefits of gratitude for kids:
Creates a positive outlook 💞 Encourages empathy & kindness
⭐ Boosts self-esteem 
Increases happiness
Helps to regulate moods 
Builds resilience
Improves sleep 
Improves relationships
How to Practice Gratitude with Kids
We love to be thankful on Thanksgiving, but it’s a good idea to practice gratitude all year round. Teaching kids to be appreciative, from a young age, helps them to grow into optimistic adults with great friendships and can-do attitudes!
Here are 5 ways you can encourage a gratitude mindset:
- Practice positive affirmations. “I am strong. I am loved. I am grateful for my friends and family.” You might have heard these before! Make affirmations a part of your child’s routine—and try to be as specific as possible. Affirmations are key to positive thinking!
- Show gratitude. Monkey see, monkey do! Kids learn by example, so it’s important that you show gratitude as well. Share your happy feelings with your little one on a regular basis and treat everyone you meet with respect.
- Write thank you cards. This sweet gesture goes a long way. Get your kiddo involved in thanking babysitters, coaches, teachers, family, and friends with handwritten cards. Holiday greetings and letters will also do the trick!
- Donate to charity and goodwill. The next time you declutter, choose to give things away instead of throwing them out. This small gesture shows your kiddo that you take nothing for granted. Sharing is caring!
- Visit loved ones. Taking the time to check in on the people we love is not only an amazing thing to do, but it shows your little one that you care. Try video calls for long-distance relationships!
More Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
We love a list of ideas to spice things up! Make the most of your Thanksgiving weekend with these family activities.
- Host a Friendsgiving brunch or dinner
- Watch a Thanksgiving Day parade
- Write handmade “thank you” cards
- Participate in a Turkey Trot or other charity event
- Host a movie marathon
- Bake a traditional Thanksgiving dessert
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt
- Make a gratitude jar
- Color a Thanksgiving Day picture
- Start a gratitude journal or Thanksgiving printable
Happy Friendsgiving!
No matter how you celebrate, we wish you a safe, happy, and wonderful holiday. We hope our Thanksgiving coloring printables make your weekend extra special, and that your kiddo learns a thing or two along the way. A grateful heart is the best kind to share!
Tell us about your Friendsgiving celebrations by tagging @heybestiedolls on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok 😊 We’d love to see your kiddo’s artwork!
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See you next time!
