Spring craft activity: the Thankful Tree from Winston’s Wish

April 2025

Grief can be overwhelming for children (and adults) with so many feelings, thoughts and questions going around their head. It can help to think and talk about the things in their life that they are thankful for or that make them feel good and the Thankful Tree activity from our friends at Winston’s Wish is a great way to do this together.

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During the Easter holidays, when your child doesn’t have the distractions of school or college to occupy them, you might find that their emotions come to the surface. The Thankful Tree craft can be a good way to help children step back from all their overwhelming emotions and focus on things that make them feel good. Having a completed tree to look at when they are having a bad day can also help your child by giving them ideas of things they can do to help themselves feel better. 

Sometimes children (and adults) can feel guilty for feeling happy while they are grieving. It’s important to remind them that it’s okay to feel happy, you don’t have to be sad all the time. Grief comes with lots of different feelings, and you may feel different from day to day, hour to hour or even minute to minute and that’s okay. 

We have chosen to make a thankful tree but to make this activity more Easter-themed you could have a basket of colourful Easter eggs, a garden full of flowers (and maybe a bunny or two) or a flowerpot full of spring flowers. Or a design of your own, why not ask your child what they would like to draw?

How to make a Thankful Tree (Garden, Flowerpot or Egg Basket)

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You will need:

• 3 sheets of A4 paper (or more depending how many shapes you make)

• Pens or pencils

• Scissors

• Glue

• Tape

 

How to make a Thankful Tree with your child

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1. Tape two sheets of A4 paper together to make an A3 size.

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2. On the paper, you or your child can draw the outline of either a tree trunk and branches, a garden, a plant pot with flower stems or a basket – or another design of your choice. 

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3. Using the remaining paper, you or your child can cut out the shapes to add to your drawing. This could be leaf shapes for the tree, flowers for the garden or flowerpot, or eggs for your basket. If you have coloured paper, you could use that, or your child can colour in the shapes using coloured pencils or pens.

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4. You’re ready to write! Grab a pen or pencil and on each shape, your child (with help if needed) can write something they’re thankful for or that makes them feel good. This could be a person’s name; their teddy or toy’s name; their favourite song, TV show, food or drink; or anything that makes them feel good and they’re grateful for right now. They can draw and write on as many shapes as they like.

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5. When your child has written on the shapes, you can help them glue them to the end of each branch, or in your garden, flowerpot or egg basket. When your design is finished, you can display it somewhere so your child can look at it whenever they like.

Where to get support

Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief.

If you are an adult supporting a bereaved child or young person who is struggling with their grief, you can call Winston’s Wish on 08088 020 021, email ask@winstonswish.org or use the live chat on their website winstonswish.org (all available 8am-8pm, weekdays). They will be able to offer guidance, information and support. 

For out of hours mental health support, text WW to 85258 to speak with someone from Winston’s Wish’s trusted partner, Shout. For urgent support in a crisis, please call 999.