We are so honored to host a guest post for our Ramadan crafts 30-day challenge from Teaching.in.Colour

Masrura is sharing how she made this Ramadan Gratitude Tree full of things to be thankful for with her kids to place on her dining table.

To celebrate our 11th annual Ramadan crafts 30-day challenge, we are hosting guest posts for most of the month, if you have a craft, resource, or recipe you’d like to share, please let us know.

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The Gratitude Tree

Suitable for Age 3+

Introduction

This is the perfect mindfulness activity for Ramadan.

I first got this idea, back when I was teaching in a primary school. I set up a Thoughts Tree, where the children in my class could write their thoughts or worries, anonymously if they wished, and together, we would discuss and find solutions.

So, to take that idea and adapt it to fit the spirit of Ramadan, I came up with the Gratitude Tree

I’ve really been focusing on all the blessings we have, with my boys who are 2 and 4. Every night after our duas and before we sleep, we thank Allah for all the things and people we have in our lives. Our discussions started off with me giving them lots of examples. Gratitude may seem like a big concept for little ones to grasp but with repetition, consistency and real-life examples, they’ll soon be coming up with their own ideas even at a very young age. So, spend some time talking about gratitude before you begin this craft activity.

These discussions along with this craft, will fit perfectly with the spirit of Ramadan. This craft can be done just with the kids but I find it really helps strengthen family bonds when we all do this together. What’s more, it can be left up on display and added to, throughout the year so you can watch your Gratitude Tree ‘grow’.

The aim of the Gratitude Tree is to help with gratitude, mindfulness, positivity and a stronger connection and awareness of Allah. It will help us appreciate the ‘small’ blessings from Allah which we sometimes don’t think about or that we may take for granted. The Gratitude Tree can also be used as a reflection point in difficult times to make us mindful of the things that are going right in our lives.

You will need:

• Some twigs without leaves (long enough to put in a vase)
• A vase
• Battery operated Fairy lights (Optional)
• Small stones to keep the twigs stable (decorative ones or from the garden)
• Blank gift tags (or you can cut out leaf or heart shapes from coloured/decorative paper)
• String or Ribbon (if you are not using gift tags and cutting out your own shapes)
• Scissors (if you are cutting your own shapes)

Instructions

1. Place the stones into the vase.

2. Stand the twigs into the vase.

3. Wrap the fairy lights around the twigs and place the battery pack into the vase.

4. If you are using blank gift tags, your child can now draw or write the blessings they are grateful for. If they are too young, you can scribe for them.

5. If you are making your own hangings, you can cut out your desired shapes and punch a hole at the top and attach the string or ribbon. Then ask your children to draw or write on the blessings they are grateful for.

6. Now hang the gift tags/shapes onto the twigs of your gratefulness tree.

Tip: This tree can be adapted to a Duas Tree or a Catch me doing good deeds tree.

I pray your family enjoy this activity and it helps build a mindful approach of appreciating your blessings thereby a deeper closeness to Allah. Have a blessed Ramadan.