Happy First 5 Friday! Here is a great way to start off your weekend as you READ, TALK and PLAY with your little ones!

READ: Start off your weekend as you read "My Attitude of Gratitude" by Melissa Winn. How do you feel about being thankful?

TALK: Talk to your little ones about what it means to have a great attitude toward being thankful by using the conversation starters below.

Suggested questions to get the conversation started for all ages:

• What made you smile today?
• What does it mean to be thoughtful?
• Tell me about one thoughtful action you showed someone.

Suggested conversation questions about "My Attitude of Gratitude" by Melissa Winn for children ages 0-3:

• What rhyming words did you hear in the book “My Attitude of Gratitude” by Melissa Winn?
• Parents: This is a great time to teach your little ones about rhyming words and help them find examples!
• Can you point to something you are grateful for? Show me!

Suggested conversation questions about "My Attitude of Gratitude" by Melissa Winn for children ages 4-5:

• Have you ever been sad that something didn’t work out? Tell me about this time and what you were grateful for that came from the situation.
• What is something funny or fun that you heard today or that happened to you today?

PLAY: Play with your little ones as they create their own gratitude jar! This could be a fun activity for your little ones and your entire family.

Materials Needed:

• An empty jar, bowl or container.
• Multiple colors of construction paper
• Markers, crayons or colored pencils
• Scissors
• Tape

How to Make Your Own Gratitude Jar:

1. Optional: If you would like, have your little one draw on the construction paper to decorate their gratitude jar, bowl or empty container. Wrap the construction paper or decorations around the jar and tape them to the jar.
2. Cut your construction paper into strips of paper.
3. Help your little one use their markers, crayons and colored pencils to write on the strips of paper what they are thankful for.
4. Option: Write out one thing a day until the jar, bowl or empty container is full.
5. Fold the piece of paper and drop it into the jar, bowl or empty container.
6. Once the jar, bowl or empty container is full, pull out the strips of paper and read what everyone is thankful for.
7. Enjoy talking about what everyone is thankful for and repeat all steps to fill the jar, bowl or empty container again!

Please share pictures of the special memories you make with your little one on Facebook and Instagram at @First5Lex!

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