Bring a little bit of autumn indoors. Family and friends help create this wreath by sharing what they are thankful for on brightly colored leaves. Every member of the family can contribute to this beautiful wreath. This is a great, concrete, visual way to put meaning back in the holidays for children.

Materials:

• 18-inch diameter straw wreath
  

• Fall leaves
  

• 1 or 2 metallic paint pens
  

• 3 1/2-yards of 1/4-inch elastic
  

• 1 straight pin
  

Directions

1. Fill a large grocery sack with sturdy fall leaves.

2. As a base, use an 18-inch diameter straw wreath.

3. Wrap the wreath with the elastic. Start by securing one end of the elastic to the top of the wreath with a long straight pin. Wrap the elastic around the wreath at 3-inch intervals. The elastic should be snug against the straw, but not too tight. Once you have gone all the way around the wreath, tie the ends of the elastic together.

4. Using a paint pen on the leaves, have each member of the family write down what they are most thankful for.

We leave a basket of leaves near the door, and on Thanksgiving Day, all of our guests add their blessings to our wreath.

--

You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is:

1. Printed in its full form with no changes
   

2. Includes an active link
   

3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to the above contact
   

4. And the following byline appears at the bottom of each article:
   

Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit http://www.togetherparenting.com.

To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp

Copyright Nine Twenty Press

info@togetherparenting.com