Forget about stuffing yourself with mashed potatoes and green bean casserole for a moment because we're going on a literary feast.

How do you bring Thanksgiving and the attitude of gratitude to your makerspace? Today we talk about the practice of gratitude and creating moments for kids to think and build based on literature with a Thanksgiving theme.

Fall is in the air! Well, actually not here in Florida. Fall doesn't come until the end of December. LOL

So here we are for fall. And this week I am trying to give you some Thanksgiving ideas well in advance. So I hope you will join me.

Gratitude is a practice. It results in positive thinking. In a difficult time and world, the one true factor that can make the most impact is exercising gratitude. It is complex, yet very simple. The cause of resentment and poor behavior is a direct result of feeling undervalued, not worthy, not heard, and not cared about. When we focus on the things in which we do value and are the most grateful for, we can change resentment into gratitude and love. Recognizing and expressing gratitude towards children can change everything. Expressing gratitude is a simple answer to a complex problem. We need to stop thinking about gratitude as emotion and begin to live it as an action. Living your life as an expression of gratitude is the greatest give you can give a child and yourself.