9 Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids Gratitude This Thanksgiving
8 minute read
The Thanksgiving holiday is such a special time for gathering together with loved ones and expressing gratitude for all the good things we have in our lives.
But expressing gratitude is a skill that must be learned and practiced over time. That’s why it can be difficult for young children to recognize the kind actions of others and how this brings goodness into their own lives.
Thankfully, we can model and teach our kiddos gratitude on a daily basis… And helping them put these ideas into practice actually has many benefits for their health, happiness, and self-esteem!
It’s easy to get started…even in the midst of a busy holiday season! Let’s take a look at 9 easy ways to teach your kids gratitude this Thanksgiving.
Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
And this has amazing benefits for young children.
Studies have shown that feeling thankful and practicing gratitude can (Mayo Clinic):
- Increase happiness and optimism
- Improve sleep, mood and immunity
- Decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease
That’s why sharing kindness during Thanksgiving season is an easy way to boost your little one’s health and add an extra dose of happiness during a busy time of the year.
But the truth is — practicing gratitude is wonderful for your kids’ health and well-being….all year round! Let’s take a look at several ways you can help your kiddos learn about gratitude every day of the year.
3 Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids Gratitude on a Daily Basis
Say “Thank You”
Teaching your children how to say “thank you” is a great foundational building block for learning about gratitude. And it’s easy to practice on a regular basis! By incorporating this simple phrase into your daily routine, you will naturally expose your child to the act of expressing gratitude.
Say “thank you” to your child, partner or other family members at the dinner table, when they complete a chore, or say something kind.
You can also say “thank you” to other people you interact with throughout your day — the barista at your favorite coffee shop, the cashier at the grocery store, your next door neighbor.
Encourage your little one to say “thank you” on a regular basis — either with sign language or verbally. It won’t be long before you start to hear them practice this act of kindness on their own!
Model Gratitude
Beyond saying “thank you,” it may be difficult for your children to grasp the concept of gratitude from an early age. They may have feelings of appreciation and gratitude, but may not understand how to express these thoughts to others.
That’s why it’s important to model gratitude verbally in other ways. And it doesn’t have to be complicated! Simply express your thoughts and feelings of gratitude…out loud.
Tell your child how much their hug meant to you. How thankful you are that they helped clean up after dinner. Or how grateful you were that they shared the toy they were playing with.
With young children, try using your little one’s favorite dolls or special lovies to model conversations where you express gratitude. You might share that you appreciated seeing the beautiful colors of the sunrise this morning. Or how much fun it was to go to the park together over the weekend.
Simply, verbalize what you’re thankful for about your home, your family, your job, your community, your day…anything!
Read Books About Gratitude
Photo of Good Morning, World—I Love You So
Reading books about thankfulness is another great way to introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of gratitude. Because reading about new experiences and situations can be eye-opening for children — helping them understand, appreciate, and express the gratitude they have in their own lives.
Some of our favorite books about gratitude are:
Incorporate one of these books into your bedtime routine. Add them to your child’s bookshelf so you can read them together throughout the day. Talk to your child about the story, ask them questions, and help them think through similar situations they’ve experienced.
6 Simple Activities to Practice Gratitude with Your Kids
In addition to these daily practices, here are a few great activities that you can do with your child to celebrate this special season of thankfulness. Incorporate these activities into your days leading up to Thanksgiving and even beyond!
Gratitude Time at the Dinner Table
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to share what you’re grateful for while gathering around the dinner table with your loved ones. But this doesn’t have to be a practice you only do once a year!
Having a daily gratitude time during dinner is a wonderful tradition — and a great way to learn more about your family’s day! Ask each person in your family to share one thing that they’re grateful for that day. This allows your kiddos to reflect on their day and find something joyful, good, or lovely that they experienced…even if their whole day wasn’t the best.
This practice of finding joy — no matter what our circumstances — is an incredible tool for little ones that can boost their ability to bounce back from stress, solve problems, think flexibly and even fight disease (Mental Health America).
Gratitude Journal/Gratitude Jar
Keeping a gratitude journal or writing notes that you add to a special gratitude jar is a wonderful way to foster a spirit of gratitude in kiddos. Older kids can practice their writing skills to write down things they are grateful for. And younger children can draw pictures or people or things they are grateful for — or have you write them down on their behalf.
Beyond trying to keep a list in our heads — the act of physically writing down what we are grateful for is a magical thing. This gratitude practice has benefits for your mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
A gratitude journal or gratitude jar is also a quick way to incorporate gratitude into your daily life — especially during a busy season. All you need is a piece of paper and a handy pen. But you can also make it fun with colorful crayons, vibrant markers, and construction paper!
Gratitude Tree/Gratitude Turkey
Photo from Preschool Play & Learn | FREE Printable “I am Thankful” Turkey Paper Craft | Image Source: https://www.preschoolplayandlearn.com/free-printable-i-am-thankful-turkey-paper-craft/
We love a meaningful Thanksgiving craft that you can display in your home and add to each day with your little ones. Gratitude trees are beautiful and easy to put together — you can cut out a tree/tree trunk from colored paper and write something you’re thankful for on each branch or leaf.
Younger kiddos may be grateful for their parents, siblings, or friends…their favorite toy, lovey, or book. Older children may want to write down a favorite memory, experience, or special act of kindness someone showed them.
You can also incorporate nature into your gratitude tree — using sticks you find outside on a walk to build your “tree.” Or even writing your gratitudes on real leaves!
If you have younger kiddos, they will love creating a special gratitude turkey that they can personalize and make their own! Have them draw and color a turkey body and individual feathers for their notes of gratitude. Or use an easy template — like THIS ONE from Preschool Play & Learn — that you can print and cut out.
Gratitude Walk
If your kids love to be outside, going on a gratitude walk is just the thing to get your little ones out in nature and practice expressing thankfulness. Set an intention before you start the walk so that everyone knows that this walk is special and family members can participate in any way they’d like.
This could look like taking in the sights, sounds, smells of the things around you and sharing what you think is beautiful or interesting about them. The weather, seasons, fun holiday decorations, or surprise visits from animals can all be opportunities for thankfulness.
You can also ask your children what they’re grateful for today, this week, or during this special season. You may be surprised at how quickly the walk goes by and how much fun you have along the way!
Write Thank You Notes
We also love that writing a thank you card gives young children more time to expand upon their feelings of gratitude — reflecting on what was really meaningful to them and putting these thoughts into words.
Plus, writing thank you notes is a meaningful habit that your children can take with them into their teen and adult years. This skill will help prepare them to express their appreciation to the people that make future occasions extra special…like birthday parties, graduations, and even their wedding!
Practice Acts of Kindness Together
Some children naturally learn how to be empathetic toward others and have an easy time expressing their appreciation for others through giving gifts or small acts of kindness. But for many children, this is a skill that needs to be fostered over time.
A wonderful way to teach your little one how to express their feelings of gratitude is to practice acts of kindness together. This could look like baking cookies together for the new neighbor that just moved in. Surprising their teacher with a homemade card or gift. Or dropping off a meal to a family member or friend who’s sick.
Some other ways to practice kindness with your kids in your community are:
- Donate some of your children’s used toys/clothes to a worthy charity.
- Purchase new toys and drop them off at a homeless shelter or children’s hospital.
- Volunteer together at a local food bank or participate in a non-profit’s Turkey trot.
- Host a bake sale and donate the money to your child’s favorite cause.
- Spend time with seniors at your local nursing home.
Think about your child’s interests and encourage them to use their passions and imaginations to brighten someone’s day. The possibilities are endless!
Let’s Have a Happy, Grateful Thanksgiving!
At Babies in Bloom we are grateful to be a part of your lives and feel so thankful to support so many amazing expecting and new families in our community.
Whether it’s helping you find the perfect fall outfit…a fun new Thanksgiving art project…a babies-and-me class…or perfect holiday treat for your littles…
We are happy to be there to help guide you through the most magical and exciting time of your life!
We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
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Boutique Address: 127 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
Boutique Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm (We are closed on Sunday!)
