Building Kindness and Friendship: Thanksgiving Lessons Toddlers Will Love
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday meal; it is a time to celebrate love, friendship, and gratitude. For toddlers, this special season offers the perfect opportunity to begin learning about kindness and sharing in joyful, hands-on ways. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or early childhood educator, teaching little ones to appreciate others can be both fun and meaningful.
In this post, we will share simple Thanksgiving activities and lessons that help toddlers express kindness, understand friendship, and practice gratitude, all while having fun.
Why Teaching Kindness Matters at a Young Age
Early childhood is when empathy and social awareness begin to develop. Toddlers may not yet understand the word gratitude, but they can feel it through hugs, smiles, and simple acts of sharing. By guiding them with love and gentle examples, we help shape little hearts that value compassion and connection.
Teaching kindness helps toddlers:
Build strong, positive relationships
Develop emotional intelligence
Gain confidence and empathy
Experience joy from giving and sharing
Lesson 1: The Friendship Feast
Host a mini "Friendship Feast" where each child brings or pretends to bring something to share such as play food, paper cutouts, or snacks.
Learning goal: Sharing and generosity
Activity tip: Encourage toddlers to say, "I brought this for you!" as they serve their friends.
Extend the fun: End with a group thank-you song.
Lesson 2: The Thankful Hands Craft
Create a "Thankful Hands Tree" by tracing each child’s hands on colored paper. Help them name something they are thankful for, such as family, friends, or a favorite toy, and write it on each hand.
Learning goal: Expressing gratitude
Supplies: Colored paper, safety scissors, glue, and markers
Bonus idea: Display the tree in your classroom or home for the week of Thanksgiving.
Lesson 3: Songs of Thanks and Friendship
Music brings lessons to life. Try these simple tunes to teach kindness and thankfulness:
"Thank You Song" (sung to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Thank you, thank you, everyone,
Thanksgiving time is so much fun.
We show kindness, we all share,
Showing friends how much we care.
"Sharing Song" (sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Share, share, share with friends,
It’s a joyful way to play.
Thankful hearts and happy hands,
Make our day today.
Learning goal: Reinforcing empathy through rhythm and repetition
Lesson 4: Storytime About Gratitude
Books make abstract ideas like kindness easier for toddlers to understand. Try these toddler-friendly reads:
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
Activity idea: After reading, ask questions such as “What made the characters feel thankful?” or “How did they show they were friends?”
Lesson 5: Acts of Kindness Jar
Fill a jar with pictures or cards showing small acts of kindness toddlers can do each day, such as helping clean up toys, giving a hug, or saying thank you.
Learning goal: Turning gratitude into action
Tip: Celebrate each act with a sticker or high-five.
Wrap-Up: Thankfulness Starts Small
Kindness begins in the simplest moments, such as a shared toy, a hug, or a smile. By creating a Thanksgiving lesson plan full of gratitude, friendship, and sharing, you are helping toddlers grow into caring, confident individuals.
At this special time of year, let us fill our classrooms and homes with small acts of thankfulness that make a big difference.
Make this Thanksgiving a season of learning, laughter, and love for your little ones.