Gratitude is one of the most important things we can teach our young learners. Introducing fun and engaging ways to show someone you appreciate something they said or did for you can make for a super fun classroom activity. We’re sure your kiddos won’t need to look too hard for things, people, and circumstances that they can be thankful for every day! Take a look at these 31 superb crafts, games, and activity ideas, and inspire your preschoolers to be thankful!
1. Grateful Sensory Table
Our first gratitude activity encourages your kids to think of things or people that bring them joy. You can add a variety of things to your sensory bin to make it engaging and interactive. Give your toddlers a small piece of paper and help them write down something they are thankful for and place it in the bin.
Learn More: The OT Toolbox
2. Gratitude Garland
It is always fun to practice gratitude through creativity and artistic expression! Help your preschoolers make a garland of gratitude using fall-colored scrap paper and string. Give each student a few leaves to write down what they are thankful for in their lives.
Learn More: I Love Inspired
3. Bear Says Thanks
This thankful book has an easy-to-understand perspective on thankfulness your preschoolers will love to hear during circle time. You can do a read-aloud and begin a discussion about what Bear was thankful for and what they can be thankful for too!
Learn More: Amazon
4. Counting Grateful Beads
This hands-on learning activity pairs with the above book Bear Says Thanks. It incorporates counting practice, motor skills, and gratefulness all in one! Help your toddlers shape pipe cleaners into numbers and give them some beads. Have them say something they are thankful for each time they add a bead to a number.
Learn More: The OT Toolbox
5. Gratitude Pick-Up Sticks
Here is one of my favorite gratitude activities to play with young kids because they get so excited trying to pick up a stick from the pile without touching the others. The game involves concentration and motor skills, as well as critical thinking and self-reflection.
Learn More: Teach Beside Me
6. Gratitude Board Game
Have trouble thinking of the right questions to get your kiddos in the attitude of gratitude? Well here is a printable board game you can bring to class and play with them to inspire thankful thoughts. Roll some dice and start feeling grateful!
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
7. Gratitude Bingo
Use this printable or create your own bingo sheets of things we can all be grateful for. Bring these to class or let your kiddies play at home with their family to start a discussion about the things we can all be happy about each day.
Learn More: Littles Life And Laughter
8. Have Them Help Out With Chores
A great way to help your little ones appreciate the actions of others is by having them complete a few chores of their own. This list of chores for kids has a bunch of age-appropriate tasks for kiddies to get on with. Through doing tasks like making their beds, tidying away their toys, and helping with dishes, they’ll gain a new appreciation for the people who usually do these tasks for them!
Learn More: Kids Activities Blog
9. Volunteering
One of the best and most useful ways to teach gratitude is to encourage your kids to contribute to society through volunteering. Take your students to help at a soup kitchen or food drive for those in need.
Learn More: Active Kids
10. Giving Things Away
Another hands-on way to teach gratitude is by giving back. As kids get older they grow out of clothes, have toys they don’t use, and have other extra things lying around. Instill an attitude of gratitude by asking them to donate some of their unused things to charity!
Learn More: Kingdom First Homeschool
11. Baking for Others
Spend a day in the kitchen getting messy and baking something sweet for others! Your kids will learn useful skills like measuring and mixing while enjoying doing something kind for someone else. You can take your baked goodies around the neighborhood or have your toddler bring them to school for sharing.
Learn More: Kingdom First Homeschool
12. The Thankful Book
Here’s another amazing and age-appropriate book that teaches kids how to be thankful! The simple sentences and concepts about gratitude for life are sure to resonate with your kiddies and they’re going to love the cute illustrations too.
Learn More: Amazon
13. Thankful Trees
There are a few different options for this simple craft, so you can pick the version using the materials you have available. This lovely gratitude tree uses real branches and leaves and can be placed in your house or classroom as decoration and daily practice for gratitude. Go out and collect the leaves and branches together outside then paint or write on each leaf.
Learn More: Rhythms Of Play
14. Thankful Window
Pick a window in your house or classroom and title it the “Thankful Window”. After you’ve created an amazing display, your kids can add to it using washable paint or markers to write down things they are grateful for. Let them add to it each day or week to build up a beautiful display of gratitude!
Learn More: Pinterest
15. Thank You Notes to Self
Giving and getting thank you notes is one of the best feelings to share! Get creative and teach your kids about gratitude by helping them write thank you notes to themselves about the things they are proud of and those who have helped them achieve their goals.
Learn More: The Early Childhood Academy
16. Gratitude Journal
There are tons of great options for making a gratitude journal with your kids. It can be completely DIY, or find a template or book your kids can write in daily. You can also make it a shared experience by having a family or whole-class gratitude journal.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
17. Beautiful Gratitude Flower Craft
Here’s another meaningful gratitude activity you can do in the classroom and keep as a decoration to reflect on during future lessons on gratitude. Help your preschooler cut the flower petals and then write something they are grateful for on each. Assemble the flowers and they’ll each have their very own gratitude flower.
Learn More: Blissful Kids
18. Gratitude Jars
A fun idea that young learners will appreciate is their own personalized gratitude jar. First, let your students decorate their own jar with pictures, stickers, and words. Then each day, have them come in and write something they are thankful for on a small piece of paper and add it to their jar.
Learn More: Blissful Domestication
20. Paper Chain of Gratitude
Another simple idea that is bound to spark joy and appreciation in your kids is this cool paper chain. Have your preschoolers cut strips of different colored construction paper and write things they are thankful for on each. Then you can use tape, glue, or staples to connect the pieces and hang them up!
Learn More: Hustle And Homeschool
21. Thankfulness Fabric Hearts
Time to work on our sewing skills with this fun gratitude craft. These tiny plush hearts can be made using any type of fabric; for preschoolers, you could use felt and plastic needles! Depending on their age and abilities they could even help with the cutting and sewing or just watch and help stuff the fluff in when it’s time.
Learn More: Live Craft Eat
22. Brown Paper Bag Tree
Here is another craft for children with a gratitude twist! With just a few art supplies and some fallen leaves, you can teach a lesson on thankfulness in your home or at school. Help your preschoolers cut and shape their paper bags into tree trunks, then use glue to add leaves. You could even add some words on the leaves to record things or people your kiddos are thankful for.
Learn More: Coffee Cups And Crayons
23. Friendship Letters
More acts of kindness coming up! Help each grateful child in your class pick a friend they would like to write a friendship letter to; just a sentence or two will do depending on their age. Set up a class mailbox for them to post their letters in and you can deliver them the next day!
Learn More: Preschool Inspirations
24. Gratitude Graffiti Project
Many schools have already made their own gratitude graffiti wall in their classroom with children who can add things they are thankful for whenever they like! There are so many options for designing your wall. You can use markers, post-it notes, paint, a letter collage, pictures, or anything you can possibly imagine to express gratitude!
Learn More: University Of Nebraska-Lincoln
25. Gratitude Photo Scavenger Hunt
This gratitude game is fun for kids young and old who have access to smartphones or devices with a camera. Some items on the list are people you are grateful for, things that have been given to you, and some of your favorite items. Review and discuss the photos as a group once everyone has completed their list!
Learn More: KC Edventures
26. Gratitude Mobile
Help your little ones express their creativity and gratitude with this fantastic activity idea using a variety of small objects and craft supplies. Go outside and find some sticks to use as the main piece and yarn or string to hang things from it.
Learn More: Meri Cherry
27. Thankful Pumpkin
Talk about a simple gratitude craft! All you need is a big pumpkin and some markers to do this gratitude activity with your toddlers! Let them come up with all the things they appreciate and love then help them write them down on the pumpkin!
Learn More: Amy Latta Creations
28. Gratitude Yoga Adventure
Guide your little ones through different yoga poses focused on gratitude. Each pose will help them to focus on something they should be grateful for, which engages them physically and enhances their mindfulness.
Learn More: Yoremi Kids
29. Thankful Stones
Ignite your kiddos’ creativity using thankful story stones! Let the children decorate their stones with things they’re grateful for, such as pets, friends, family, and homes. Once their stones are dry, have them create and tell a story together based on the images on their colorful stones.
Learn More: Very Special Tales
30. Gratitude Collage
A gratitude collage is a fun and engaging way for your kiddies to express gratitude. For this activity, they’ll need scissors, magazines, and glue. Guide them through as they cut out pictures of things they are grateful for and create collages of them. Once this is done, let them explain their choices and why they are grateful!
Learn More: Make And Takes
31. Thankful Song Circle
Create a fun-filled musical atmosphere with your preschoolers to express gratitude! Get your little ones into a circle and have fun singing some thankful songs together. You could even choose to create one together with them once they’ve mastered these ones!
Learn More: Pre Kinders
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