Monthly contributor post from Kristen at Celebrate Every Day with Me:

 

When I was growing up, on the side of our refrigerator, my mom hung a Blessing Board.  It was a small framed chalkboard with the word, “Blessings” across the top and on it, we would write things for which we were thankful.

Over the years, there were many words written on that board from the meaningful to the simple:  family, jobs, friends, pets, special events and unexpected blessings.

So today, we are making Winter Blessing Boards with our kids.  Not only will the boards help us count blessings and develop thankful hearts, but they will also be precious keepsakes with our children’s artwork.

You Will Need:

• Chalkboards – I bought ours at Walmart for $2 each or check out this 6-pack of framed chalkboards on Amazon for $12.69 that you can paint and add your child’s name to the frame.
• White Paint – I used tempera paint, but acrylic paint would also work.
• Paint Markers – Admittedly, this is where I went a little crazy.  I am a sucker for art supplies.
• A kid-friendly surface to work on.  I have a heavy-duty lined table cloth that is deemed the craft table cloth.  We use it for anything messy from coloring eggs to painting projects like this one.

Instructions:

1.  Paint your kid’s full fingers and stamp them, one at a time, on the chalkboard.  You could choose to make fingerprint snowmen, with each fingerprint being a ball of the snowman.  However, we wanted larger snowman, so we used the whole finger.

*Important to know if using tempera paint:  if the paint is too thick on the board, it will crack when drying.

Allow the snowmen to dry completely.

2.  With the paint markers, write “I’m Thankful For” at the top and decorate the snowmen.  Add faces, hats, scarves, arms, buttons . . . endless possibilities.  And incidentally, don’t worry if your kids decide to make the snowmen into other creatures.  My son added wings, odd feet and crazy arms.

3.  With chalk, have your kids write something for which they are thankful.  Do it often.  Write the important, the fun, the meaningful or simple little blessings of everyday life.

Grow in thankfulness.  Grow in faith.  Grow together.

What will you write on your Blessing Board?

Other Ideas for Inspiring Thankfulness:

• Start a Gratitude List with these prompts.
• Read Stacie’s ebook, Thanksgiving Heart.  You’ll find it motivating, inspiring and practical!
• Make a Thankful Tree.

Kristen of Celebrate Every Day With Me is a fun-loving mom to two kids who keep her busy and laughing. Add her great husband and the Lord to the mix and her life is one fantastic (and sometimes crazy) adventure. She is a former youth leader, professional wedding and event planner and has a degree in Christian Thought/Christian Ministry. She loves long lists, diet soda and playing jokes on her husband.

Kristen is the author of Teach Me To Serve:  99 Ways Preschoolers Can Learn To Serve & Bless Others.  On her blog, you’ll find fun ideas for children’s activities, creating memorable moments and party planning.