Discover 20 fun gratitude activities for kids. These fun and easy activities teach kids the joy of being thankful. Also, it can increase positivity and strengthen family bonds with these simple ideas.

These gratitude activities are a fun way to encourage kids to be thankful. Therefore, you should try some of these gratitude activities with your kids.

These kid-friendly activities teach children the value of appreciation and kindness. For instance, it helps them see beauty in everyday moments.

Do your kids suffer from the poor me syndrome? Does your child complain about how life is unfair, focuses on what they lack or the difficulties they face, without actively seeking solutions?

Many kids compare themselves to others, especially when it comes to material things. “Everyone has a Nintendo Switch and I don’t.” Or “she gets a better grade than me and I work just as hard as she does”.

Practicing gratitude can help with the poor me syndrome. Instead of focusing on what they don’t have, kids will learn to focus on their blessings.

Teaching children gratitude can lead to happier and more fulfilling lives. Thus, gratitude can help your kids stay positive even in the tough times.

Gratitude needs to be nurtured over time, it isn’t something your kids can be taught in one or two days. So, these thankful activities should be incorporated into your daily routine.

Gratitude should be practiced all year long and not just around Thanksgiving.

Why Gratitude Matters

Gratitude is a big deal for children. Here are some benefits of gratitude to children:

• Happier Kids: Grateful children tend to be happier and more content with their lives.
• Better Relationships: They build stronger and more positive relationships with others.
• Reduced Stress: Gratitude helps kids handle stress and tough times more effectively.
• Improved Self-Esteem: Grateful children tend to have higher self-esteem and feel more confident.
• Empathy and Kindness: It encourages kids to be more empathetic and kinder to others.

Gratitude helps kids appreciate the good things in life. Therefore, they are able to face challenges with a positive attitude.

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Gratitude Activities for Kids

Help your children learn gratitude with these simple activities:

Write In a Gratitude Journal

Encourage your child to write down something they’re thankful for each day. Try to set a regular time, like before bedtime, to make it a routine.

Gratitude journals are happy diaries. You write down things you’re thankful for every day. It’s a simple way to focus on good stuff.

Just grab a notebook, and each day, write down things you’re thankful for. It could be big or small, such as sunny days, a friend’s smile, or your pet’s company. Over time, it helps you see the good, even on tough days.

This gratitude journal for kids is popular on Amazon.

Start Thankful Dinner Conversations

During dinner, ask everyone to share one thing they’re thankful for that day. It’s a simple way to teach kids to appreciate the little moments in life.

By making thankfulness a daily ritual, you’re instilling in them the habit of thinking positively. Try it out and watch as gratitude becomes a natural part of your family’s dinnertime routine.

Practice Acts of Kindness

Encourage a gratitude-filled heart in your kids by having them do small acts of kindness. It helps your children understand that even small, unexpected gestures can make a big impact. Also, make sure to discuss how it made your child feel.

Some examples of acts of kindness include:

• Holding a door open
• Sharing toys with a classmate
• Writing a kind note to someone who helps you

A simple kind word or two goes a long way. My son was having a bad day and while he was helping me push the grocery cart, an older gentlemen commented to him how he was such a good helper and he was doing a good job. My son’s attitude quickly changed, and he talked about the compliment the man at the grocery store gave him all evening.

Create Gratitude Art

Have your child create a gratitude collage or drawing to express what they’re thankful for. Then, display it in their room as a daily reminder.

Simply provide them with art supplies and encourage them to draw things they feel grateful for. Some examples include a colorful drawing of a favorite pet or pictures of family members.

Write Thank You Notes

Teach your child to write thank-you notes for gifts or acts of kindness they’ve received. This shows them how appreciation is communicated.

You can write thank you notes to:

• Family members
• Friends
• Mailman
• Teacher
• Trash collector
• Police officer

Go On a Gratitude Walk

Go for a walk and have your child point out things they appreciate in the environment. This is a mindfulness exercise that connects them to the world around them.

Take gratitude outdoors with this simple and fun activity: the gratitude walk. During your next walk around the neighborhood or park, encourage your kids to notice things they’re thankful for in their surroundings. For example it could be the vibrant colors of flowers, the soothing sound of birdsong, or the warmth of the sun on their faces.

Talking about these discoveries helps them see the beauty in the world around them.

Make a Gratitude Jar

Have your child decorate a jar and label it as the “Gratitude Jar.” Then, encourage them to write down things they’re thankful for on small pieces of paper and place them in the jar. At the end of the month, you can read the notes together as a family.

Go On a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt list with items related to things your child can be grateful for, like “something soft” or “something that makes you smile.” Then, go on the scavenger hunt together, and discuss why each item is on the list.

Read Gratitude Books

Read books with gratitude themes or stories that emphasize appreciation for what we have. After reading, ask your child what they’re grateful for and how the story relates to their own life.

Make a Gratitude Calendar

On a calendar, write down one thing your child is grateful for. It can be big or small. They can draw or write about it in each daily square. This helps you see all the good things in your life.

Do Acts of Gratitude Challenges

Set up challenges for your child, like “Thank five people today” or “Do something kind for a family member.” Afterwards, talk about how showing gratitude made your child feel.

Make Gratitude Rocks

Collect small, smooth rocks and have your child paint them with things they’re thankful for. Keep the gratitude rocks in a special place, and your child can hold or look at them when they need a gratitude reminder.

Make a Gratitude Tree

Make a “gratitude tree” by drawing or cutting out a tree shape (you can even trace your child’s hand and arm for the tree shape). Each day, have your child add a leaf with something they’re thankful for written on it.

Take Thankful Photos

Encourage your child to take pictures of things, people, or moments they’re grateful for. Then, review the photos together and discuss what makes each one special.

Have a Gratitude Circle

Sit in a circle with your family and take turns sharing something you’re thankful for. It can be anything, for example family, friends, or a favorite toy. Listening to each other’s gratitude makes everyone happy and brings you closer.

Create a Gratitude Playlist

Create a special “gratitude playlist” of songs that make your child feel thankful, happy, or inspired.

Go on a Thankful Treasure Hunt

Hide small items or notes around the house with messages of gratitude. Then, encourage your child to find these hidden “treasures” and read the messages aloud.

Play Gratitude Bingo

Create a bingo card with various gratitude-related activities or things to be thankful for. Your child can mark off items on the card as they experience or recognize them.

Make a Gratitude Wall or Board

Designate a space on a wall or corkboard for your child to display notes or pictures of things they’re grateful for. This visual display can serve as a daily reminder of appreciation.

Have a Family Appreciation Day

Choose a day to focus on each family member and express why they’re special. For example, share compliments, create cards, or do something nice for each person. It’s a day to show gratitude for the love and support family gives. In addition, this simple tradition strengthens family bonds.

Practical Tips for Implementing Gratitude Activities

• Be a role model by expressing your own gratitude regularly.
• Keep the activities age-appropriate, adjusting them for your child’s understanding.
• Make it fun and lighthearted, avoiding pressure or judgment.
• Encourage consistency but be flexible if they miss a day or two.
• Be patient and let your child’s understanding of gratitude grow naturally.

Key Points to Remember

• Gratitude can make your child happier, thus improving their relationships, and reducing stress.
• Simple activities, conversations, and gestures can help your child develop a grateful heart.
• Lastly, these gratitude activities can be adapted to fit your family’s preferences and are a fun way to encourage gratitude in kids.

Let gratitude be a part of your family’s everyday life.

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