6 Ways to Teach the Gift of Gratitude to Kids
- Darcie @ Leighton Lane
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Did you know that practicing gratitude has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety? Expressing gratefulness can also improve sleep and reduce stress. In addition to the physical and mental health benefits, giving thanks strengthens relationships, improves resilience, enhances empathy, and boosts self-esteem.
While thankfulness in seasons of plenty comes easily, giving thanks in the defeating seasons takes a concerted effort on our part. Yet, Paul reminds us in First Thessalonians 5:16-18, that we should “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Writing down our praise daily is an excellent and tangible way to see God's blessing, provision, and faithfulness in our lives. Prayer journaling and recording praise are valuable tools when facing trials. Upon reflection, we will see God’s hand throughout the pages of our handwritten prayer and praise.
Giving thanks to God should be a natural expression and way of living for Christians. But children must be shown how to practice expressing gratitude. Thankfulness is a teachable practice for children. As a parent or someone in children’s ministry, thankfulness is one of the most important lessons we must instill in the younger generation.
Let’s look at six easy and enjoyable ways to incorporate the practice of gratitude into our daily routines.
Showcase Thankfulness with a Gratitude Display
When I spotted the leaf place cards at Hobby Lobby last year, I knew they would make perfect cards to write notes of thanks for our bulletin board. I also fell in love with the "thankful" wooden sign at Hobby Lobby. I added some gold cut-out letters and ta-da! A quick and beautiful bulletin board for the church lobby. My heart swelled with gratitude when I saw the children and youth joyfully adding their notes of praise and thankfulness.
Other Display Ideas:
A Grateful Tree is another fun option to place on a table at church or home. When I hosted Thanksgiving, I created a centerpiece with a tree limb, a vase, and cut-out leaves.
Another neat idea is to purchase a light-colored fabric tablecloth and fabric markers. Have your Thanksgiving guests write down one thing they are most grateful for this year, sign it, and date it. It makes a beautiful keepsake to be brought out each year.
I’ve seen someone use a large pumpkin and a Sharpie to encourage guests to write notes of thanks.
2. Participate in a 30-Day Gratitude Challenge During the Month of November
Write down one thing you are grateful for each day of November. You can use a simple notebook on your nightstand or print out our free 30-day grateful challenge sheets. The kids’ version has one for the dinner table and one for their nightstand.
Challenge yourself and your child to discover something new to be grateful for each day. Notice the small things to be thankful for, such as a blue jay singing in a tree or receiving a special treat for dessert.
3. Help Others & Practice Generosity
Being generous with our time and money gives us a fresh perspective on all the people and things in our lives that we should be grateful for. There are numerous great service project ideas online for all ages.
Here are a few ideas that young kids can help with:
Volunteer at the food pantry with adult supervision
Write handwritten notes and send cards to nursing home residents
Pack care packages for people struggling with homelessness
Give out homemade treats to neighbors and friends (free Fall treat bag printables)
Pack an Operation Christmas Child box
4. Read Bible Stories of Thankfulness Together
Living a life of thankfulness is a major theme throughout the Bible. The characters show children that gratitude is a gift from God, and praise and worship are our gifts to God.
Some Great Biblical Accounts of Gratefulness:
5. Read Children’s Books and Watch Cartoons about Giving Thanks
Children love learning from their favorite characters. There are wonderful resources available to stream and purchase on being grateful. Visit the library and select several books on the topic of gratitude. Minno and Veggie Tales have free shows to stream on YouTube and Prime. Angel Studios has a plethora of Christian movies. Prime Video just released The Chosen Adventures for kids. I am excited to watch these with my boys!
6. Show Them How to Live a Life of Thankfulness
The most important way we can teach our children about gratitude is by modeling a life of thankfulness. Our actions and how we walk like Christ always speak louder than words. Children are very observant and listen better than we think. We can show them how to praise and give thanks, both in difficult times and in good times, through prayer and reading the Word.
Examples of Showing How to Live with a Thankful Heart:
Give grace before meals.
Thank God first when saying evening prayers. Teach the P.R.A.Y. method.
Make sure to express thanks when your child shows responsibility or kindness, such as “Thank you for putting away your shoes. That was very helpful.”
Show gratitude to others in front of your children. My husband and I always thank each other for making dinner when we sit down at the table.
Show them how to express gratitude to strangers in public. Be sure to thank those who hold the door open, serve you food, or provide customer service.
Express to your children how deeply you thank God for the gift of parenthood or ministry.
When our son was younger I made a wreath using clothespins. Every day we each attached a construction paper leaf to it on why we were thankful. It could be something simple or sometimes it was profound but it was a constant reminder every time we left our home of all our many blessings. I also kept it up all year long.