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14 Fun Activities to Help Build Gratitude for Kids

Gratitude isn’t a skill we’re born with so teaching gratitude for kids is something we need to think about and keep on our radars.

Gratitude is simply:

gratitude

/ˈɡratɪtjuːd/

noun

the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.


~ Oxford Languages

When kids feel a sense of gratitude there are lots of benefits.  

I think the most important is a decrease in stress.  As adults, if we feel less stressed, we can cope better with life experiences.  We’re more resilient.  And it’s no different for kids. 

Other benefits to expressing gratitude for kids:

  • Kids feel better about their lives overall – they experience fewer negative emotions such as envy and higher levels of positive emotions such as optimism, enthusiasm, love and happiness.  Positive emotions open us up to more possibilities and foster a growth mindset.
  • Kids are kinder and more generous to others – their gratitude can have a positive effect on someone else’s actions. Thanking people can make it more likely they’ll do a kindness again.
  • Children cope much better through their schooling when they practise gratitude.

Research shows that children’s understanding of gratitude is a process that plays out over several years.

Kids experience of gratitude, and the desire to do good for others, deepens at around the age of 7.

We’re sharing gratitude activities that will help your kids to develop and express gratitude.

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Activities to develop gratitude for kids

1. Teach your children to say thank you from an early age 

It’s never too early to teach your kids to say thank you.  It helps them recognise when they are being given something – an important step in developing gratitude. 

In my childhood, one of the traditions taught by my parents was to give a thank you note to show appreciation (not just for gifts).  I loved the feeling of making someone else happy and being rewarded with a smile. 

If you’re short on time, there are free thank you card templates online

Or better still, your kids could make and colour thank you cards for that personalised touch.  You’ll find lots of fabulous options if you search on Etsy.

Writing a thank you letter is an excellent way for your child to practise gratitude.

Ideas for what to write in a gratitude letter for kids

Freebie!

Click here to download a free template from TherapistAid to guide your kids letter writing if you’re not sure where to start.

Your kids can add their drawings.

Praise your kids when you hear them saying thank you.  It will reinforce the importance of showing gratitude.

2. Have conversations with your kids about gratitude

Once your child is saying thank you regularly, move on to asking questions to deepen their understanding. 

Some prompts you could use:

  • Did anything special happen today?  What made it special?
  • What are you looking forward to?
  • What are you thankful for?
  • What makes you feel happy?
  • What makes you smile?
  • Why is your friend important to you?
  • What are your proud of yourself for?
  • What do you like about yourself?
  • What was your favourite part of today?
  • Is there anyone you are grateful to have in your life?

Sharing your answers to the same questions will help their understanding.

3. Explain that there are many ways to show kindness to other people such as:

  • Let somebody go in front
  • Ask somebody who is alone in the playground to come and join in the game
  • Hold the door open for somebody
  • Tidy up toys and donate some to a charity shop
  • Simply smiling at people
  • Help to do chores at home
  • Compliment someone
  • Send happy mail to a friend

4.  Join in celebrations of kindness

World Kindness Day is celebrated on 13th November each year.  There are lots of ideas on Kindness UK – pledge your act of kindness and join in with the community.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated each year.  In 2022 it’s on 17th February and the Random Acts of Kindness Week is from 14th to 21st February.  Get inspired by reading the kindness stories on the Foundation’s blog.

5. Model the behaviour you want to see

Let your kids see you expressing gratitude, there’s no better motivator 🙂

6.  Journal your gratitude together as a family

When you’re writing in your gratitude journal, get your kids to write in theirs too.

Keeping a gratitude journal isn’t just for adults … it’s great for kids too! 

Studies have shown that the positive effects for children aged 11 who keep a gratitude journal (counting one’s blessings) are

  • enhanced gratitude
  • optimism
  • life satisfaction
  • children experience a noticeable decrease in negative talking helping to keep their thoughts positive  

What can your kids write in a gratitude journal?

Morning Gratitude Routine for Kids

Get them to start the day asking themselves how they’re feeling.  What do they hope to get out of the day? What mini milestones can they set themselves? 

Bedtime Gratitude Routine for Kids

At bedtime they can write what they’re grateful for and draw what makes them happy.  It’s a fail-proof way to boost your kids’ moods before sleep.

Free Gratitude Journal for Kids Printable

Gratitude for Kids journal worksheets for a morning and a bedtime routine

Click here to download the free Gratitude for Kids Journal.

7.  Keep a daily Gratitude Jar

Gratitude Jars are a fun, artistic, and hands-on way for kids to practice gratitude.

In this activity, your kids will create a special jar where they save gratitude statements at the end of the day.

MATERIALS

• Clear Jar • Art Supplies (ribbons, stickers, magazine cutouts, etc.) • Gratitude Slips (blank strips of paper, or slips with gratitude prompts)

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by helping your kids personalise their jar with decorations. Use ribbons, stickers, magazine cut-outs, items found in nature, or anything else you can imagine.

After decorating the jars, it’s time to add the first three gratitude statements.

A gratitude statement acknowledges something that a person appreciates or is thankful for.

Once they’ve written down three gratitude statements spend a moment discussing each one.

Finally, fold the gratitude statements, and add them to the jar.

Make the gratitude jar part of your daily routine, including a brief discussion about each of your kid’s gratitudes.

This activity works great as part of a bedtime routine.

Gratitude Jar instructions and prompts

Freebie!

Click here to grab your free gratitude jar instructions

Includes 30 prompts to help you guide your kids with their gratitude statement.

8.  Help your child to see the positives in the negatives

When something negative happens, help your child to work out the positives in the experience.  You might find it helpful to use this strategy when life blindsides you too.

Gratitude Games

9. Mind Cards

LSW Mind Cards make it a fun and easy way for you to introduce the power of mindfulness, gratitude and affirmations to your kids.

Mindfulness activity – Mindfulness is learning to be fully present in the moment. This can be difficult for children, but by using these simple techniques they can learn to focus their minds on the current task and block out distractions. Calming and clearing the mind can encourage better concentration, divert tantrums, ease tensions and improve sleep.

Gratitude – Gratitude exercises can transform our negative thoughts to positive awareness of what we are thankful for in our lives. Benefits of practising gratitude can include improved self-esteem and mental health, better sleep, and improved supportive relationships with others, as well as a stronger development of empathy, optimism and good manners.

Kindness – We can all appreciate how important kindness is. Kindness triggers the same physiological responses that are associated with happiness. Teaching your child the importance of kindness at an early age can lead to improved self-esteem, a greater sense of calm and reduced anxiety.

Repeat after me – Teaching children to practise positive thinking helps to shape their beliefs from a young age. Saying a statement out loud will encourage your child to create a more positive mindset and healthy belief system. Teaching your child to be kind to themselves builds a healthy foundation as they grow through life.

Today I am – Experiencing emotions can often be difficult for children when they don’t have the appropriate words to express what they are feeling. This can lead to difficult behaviour. Encourage your child to talk about what they are feeling and let them choose the appropriate emotion card to attach to that feeling. Discuss what actions they can take to resolve it in a positive way and what they might be able to do next time this occurs.

Mind Cards for Kids box and cards in the box set for kindness, gratitude and mindfulness

Your child will select one of the 30 cards at random and do the action on the card.  The actions on the cards will encourage your kids to practise compassion, empathy and self-love.

The Mind Cards for children are a bargain for the value and impact they have.

10. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

This is an easy and a fun way to teach your kids gratitude.  Write down clues for your kids to find items around your home.  It will remind them to find blessings in the every day.

Ideas for what to hunt for:

A hug, something that is your favourite colour, something that smells good, a favourite toy, an amazing book, something that keeps you warm, a favourite stuffed animal, something you love to wear, something you are lucky to own, a picture of a friend, one of your favourite noises, something that you love outside, something that makes you laugh, something that you can give to someone to bring them joy, your favourite book.

Freebie! 

Click here to grab a free gratitude scavenger hunt PDF from Crystal at Simply Full Of Delight.   

11. Acts of Kindness Bingo for Kids

Make up bingo boards with the acts of kindness you want to help your kids with.

Each time they do a kind act listed on the bingo board, mark it off.

We’re loving the kindness bingo set from Fantastic Fun and Learning. 

There’s a bingo board for home and school and even a blank game card for you to make up your own. 

Freebie! 

Click here to grab your free Acts of Kindness Bingo sets from Fantastic Fun and Learning

12. Play Tag

Help develop kindness by surprising your kids with a tag card. Every time you show them kindness, leave a tag card for them to pay it forward.

Make it even more fun by involving the whole family – everyone will be trying to guess what the kindness was and who stepped up.

13. Gratitude Card Game

Do your kids love to play UNO?  Then they’re going to love this Gratitude Card Game from Wholehearted School Counselling from Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Available as a digital or printable version, use for your family games night to include the whole family.

14.  Best Gratitude Books for Kids

Help your child’s speech and language skills as well as planting the seeds for being thankful.

Book cover for Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Reading Age baby – 4 years

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Thankful, written by beloved children’s author Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Archie Preston, combines charming rhymes and whimsical illustrations to convey the importance of being thankful for everyday blessings.

book cover for Thanks from the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Reading Age 3 – 6 years

Thanks from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is loved globally and this charming book of pictures is the colourful way to tell loved ones thanks!

Featuring art from the World of Eric Carle, this joyful book follows The Very Hungry Caterpillar and celebrates all that makes us most thankful.

Book cover for The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

Reading Age 3 – 6 years

The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.
I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play.
I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved.

The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. From everyday activities like reading and bathtime to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of life’s special moments.

Book cover for The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

Reading Age 4 – 8 years

The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

The Thank You Letter is perfect for starting conversations about gratitutde– both for tangible gifts and for the little things we don’t always stop to appreciate. The sweet story encourages young readers to focus on positivity and share it– to write letters of their own to family, friends, and loved ones and share their joys.

For everyone who wants to encourage children to write thank you notes for gifts, and for everyone searching for new ways to connect with distant loved ones, The Thank You Letter is a perfect model for expressing gratitude– and showcases the joyful response a simple gesture can create.

Book cover for Giving Thanks, More Than a 100 Ways to Say Thank You

Reading Age 6 – 9 years

Giving Thanks: More than 100 ways to say thank you by Ellen Surrey

Discover 150 ways to say thank you with this book, which explores the meaning of thankfulness. Join one boy as he thinks about the people in his life he’d like to thank, the many reasons to be grateful, and the different ways of showing affection and gratitude to the people we love.

From giving a hug, to sharing toys, to helping someone out, this book suggests a number of practical and playful ways  to celebrate the people we share our lives with, and show them that we care.

book cover for The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids

Reading Age 7 – 10 years

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids: A Journal to Teach Children to Practice Gratitude and Mindfulness

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal is a guide to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for children.

It is a self exploration journal designed to focus on being thankful for what we have, the big things in life, as well as the simple joys. Each well designed and kid-friendly daily spread contains space to list out three things you are thankful for, a person who brought you joy and how you felt about your day. If you start each day by writing down three things you are thankful for – a family, a favourite teacher, starting a good book – you begin each day on the right note. Do it daily and make it a habit to focus on the blessings you have been given!

Don’t feel as if the gratitude activities are a chore.  Think of them as bringing your family closer together and having fun.  You’ll enjoy them as much as your kids.

Of course, there will be times when your kids will be ungrateful (just as we are sometimes!) but this doesn’t mean you’ve failed.  Just gently remind them of all the amazing things in their lives and the gratitude that they feel.

Gratitude for kids is such a simple skill to develop which will help to build their resilience. A great habit to get into!

You’ve got this.


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