“I’m grateful for—” My child paused. “I can’t think of anything.” C’mon, I thought. Seriously? Since then, we started the ritual of naming two things we’re grateful for each night. Practicing gratitude helped my kids improve in noticing the good things in their lives. Now, they can usually come up with a couple things, even if one of them includes playing Minecraft. But I want my kids to think about gratitude more often. Gratitude helps kids gain more perspective, and it even makes people happier.
We want kids to be grateful all year long, but maybe during the countdown to Thanksgiving, we can emphasize it a little more by giving thanks as a family. Here are 23 ways for kids to give thanks this Thanksgiving.
1. Write a note to your teacher, thanking her for something she’s done this school year.
2. Draw on the sidewalk for everyone to see: “I’m thankful for my neighborhood!”
3. Bring an extra treat to lunch, and thank someone for being your friend.
4. Create a family gratitude poster and hang it in the kitchen.
5. After breakfast, look out the window and find something you’re grateful for. Tell your mom about it.
Help your kids give thanks with our 15 Thanksgiving prayers printable.
6. At dinner, have everyone say two things they’re grateful for that day.
7. Put a sign in the window, thanking your mail carrier for delivering the mail rain or shine.
8. Keep a gratitude jar and slips of paper on the kitchen counter.
9. Write an email of thanks to your pastor.
10. Start a daily habit of writing in a personal gratitude journal.
11. Give a little extra at church this weekend.
12. Leave a small gift on a neighbor’s porch and thank her for something specific like waving to you every time she sees you.
13. Call a grandparent and let them know you’re glad they’re your grandpa or grandma.
14. Offer to help a teacher today.
Want to see your kids give thanks to others? Get started with our Thankful Tree.
15. Text a friend or cousin who lives far away and let them know you appreciate them.
16. Thank your mom or dad for something he or she has done for you lately.
17. Do something kind for your siblings today and tell them you love them.
18. Gather up old clothes and toys to donate. Talk about the many blessings you have.
19. Say a prayer of thanks for five blessings in your life. Print our 15 Thanksgiving Prayers to get started.
20. Bring food into school ti share or take it to a food pantry to give to the poor.
21. Show thanks to your parents by helping with an extra chore around the house.
22. Read through the slips of paper in the gratitude jar or the list on the gratitude poster with your family.
23. Spend time at Thanksgiving dinner sharing how you’ve felt this month by giving extra thanks to so many people!
How do you help your kid give thanks to others year-round?
