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In a world where there is so much emphasis placed on material possessions, it’s more important than ever to teach kids the power of appreciation.
So if you are looking for ways to teach your kids the importance of gratitude, here are 14 fun gratitude activities for kids that will teach them the power of appreciation:
Gratitude Activities for Kids
“Would You Rather?” Gratitude edition
This classic game gets an update with some gratitude-themed questions!
For example, “would you rather always find money on the ground or always be surrounded by people who make you laugh?”.
Not only is this game fun, but it’s also a great way to start conversations about what really matters in life and being grateful for what we have.
Play the “I Spy” game with a twist
Instead of looking for objects, have your child look for things they’re grateful for (e.g., “I spy something that makes me happy”). Not only will this teach kids about gratitude, but it’s also a great way to foster observation skills!
Write thank-you notes
Brainstorm a list of people your child is grateful for (e.g., teachers, grandparents, babysitters) and have them write each person a thank-you note expressing what they appreciate about them.
Making a gratitude collage
This is a great gratitude activity for kids. Have your child cut out pictures or words from magazines that represent things they’re grateful for.
Glue them onto a piece of poster board or construction paper to create a visual representation of all they have to be thankful for.
Give back to the community
This activity will help kids understand that even though they may not have a lot, there are people in the world who have less than them.
Have them go through their toys and clothes and donate items they no longer use to a local charity.
Give a gift of appreciation
Instead of showing their gratitude by giving material gifts, have your child make homemade coupons entitling friends and family members to acts of service, for example, one load of laundry washed or two days of washing up the dishes.
Share what you’re grateful for at dinner time
Go around the table and have each person share one thing they’re grateful for from the day. This is a great way to foster open communication and bond as a family while also teaching kids about appreciation.
Gratitude painting
This is one of the popular gratitude activities for kids, which involves giving your child some paint and paper and letting them express their gratitude through art! They could make one big painting or several small ones.
Gratitude scrapbook
Similar to painting, this gratitude activity is perfect for creative kids, but this time instead of painting they will craft and scrapbook. Have them create a scrapbook filled with pictures and quotes of things they’re grateful for.
Gratitude prompt jar
If your child struggles with coming up with things they’re grateful for each day, this activity will help them brainstorm ideas.
Write different prompts on slips of paper such as “a time when someone was kind to me” or “something I take for granted but am grateful for” then put all the slips of paper into a jar.
Each day have your child pick one slip of paper out of the jar and journal about what it says.
Gratitude scavenger hunt
This is a fun gratitude activity for kids, is a great way to get them up and moving while still focusing on gratitude!
Make a list of things like “something green,” “something soft,” etc. that can be found both inside and outside. Then send your child on a scavenger hunt to find as many things from the list as possible. As they find each item, have them say what they’re grateful for about it.
Keep a gratitude journal
Have your child write things they’re grateful for each day before going to bed. As they look back over their entries, they’ll be reminded of all the good in their life.
The gratitude circle game
This is a great gratitude game to play as a family!
Sit in a circle and take turns going around saying one thing you’re grateful for about each person in the circle, starting with the person to your left.
For example, “I’m grateful to mom because she always makes me feel loved.”
By the time everyone has gone around, everyone will feel appreciated!
The gratitude walk
This gratitude activity is perfect for getting some fresh air while also teaching kids about gratitude.
Go for a walk around your neighborhood or local park and have kids find things along the way they are thankful for. This could be anything from the flowers blooming to the sun shining down on them.
It’s a great way to get kids noticing all the little things in life that make it special.
Gratitude Activities for Kids: Key Take Always
Teaching kids about gratitude is important because it helps them focus on the positive aspects of their life, even when things are tough. By participating in the gratitude activities for kids like the ones above, they will learn to appreciate all they have and be more thankful for the people and things in their life.
