Gratitude is one of the most important lessons to teach young learners. There are things, people, and circumstances we can be thankful for every day. Children can start to understand how to feel and show gratitude from a young age and develop this skill as they get older.
Introducing fun and engaging ways to show someone you appreciate something they said or did to you, can be actively included in the classroom and at home. Here are 30 of our favorite crafts, games, and activity ideas to inspire thankfulness in all of us!
1. Grateful Sensory Table
Our first gratitude activity encourages 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: No Stress Homeschooling
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!
4. Counting Grateful Beads
This hands-on learning activity 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
Find a printable online or create your own bingo sheets of things we can all be grateful for. Bring these to class or play at home as a family to start a discussion about the things we can be happy about each day.
Learn more: Littles, Life, and Laughter
8. Thanks Through Travel
Seeing how other people live can teach us amazing lessons in gratitude. Whether you are able to take your toddlers on a trip or show them pictures and stories about other places and cultures, there will be things they can feel grateful for and may take for granted less often.
Learn more: Littles, Life, and Laughter
9. Volunteering
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One of the best and most useful ways to teach gratitude is to encourage 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 extra things lying around. Instill an attitude of gratitude by asking them to donate some of their 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 motor 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 is another amazing and age-appropriate book that teaches kids how to be thankful. There are simple sentences and concepts about gratitude for life, and cute illustrations your preschoolers will love.
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 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". Your kids can use washable paint or markers to write down things they are grateful for when they come into class or get home.
Learn more: Mindfulmazing
15. Thank You Notes to Self
Giving and getting thank you notes is one of the best feelings to share! Get creative and teach 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: Pick Any Two
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 gratitude journal.
Learn more: Mindfulmazing
17. Beautiful Gratitude Flower Craft
Here is a 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.
Learn more: Blissful Kids
18. Gratitude Stones
A fun idea that young learners will appreciate is their own personalized gratitude jar. First, students can 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
A simple idea that is bound to spark joy and appreciation in your kids when they make their chain links and when they walk past them in the future. 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 so your kids can help pick out the print! Depending on their age they can 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.
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
23. Corn Cob Painting
Looking for a hands-on, Thanksgiving-themed learning activity your toddlers will go crazy for? Well, grab some corn on the cob and some paints, and get rolling! Corn painting will inspire creativity and get kids in the Thanksgiving spirit no matter what time of year it is.
Learn more: Natural Beach Living
24. Friendship Notes
25. 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, letter collage, pictures, or anything you can possibly imagine to express gratitude!
Learn more: The Gratitude Graffiti Project
26. Gratitude Photo Scavenger Hunt
This gratitude game is fun for kids young and old who have access to a smartphone 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.
Learn more: KC Edventures
27. 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
28. Clay Spelling Craft
You can make your own clay alphabet letters to practice spelling and letter recognition, and write little sweet notes on the fridge or other places. Help your kids form each letter from the soft clay, then paint and glaze them when they are dry! You can add magnets on the backs for extra spelling fun!
Learn more: Moms and Crafters
29. 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. Help them write down all the things they appreciate and love on the pumpkin.
Learn more: Amy Latta Creations
30. Newspaper Garland
Anytime is the perfect time to write down things you are grateful for. Give your kids some newspaper, scissors, and leaf stencils for them to trace and cut out of the paper. Then they can write things they appreciate on each leaf and add them to the string for decoration.
Learn more: Just a Girl
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