Psychologists say that the feeling of gratitude is closely intertwined with the feeling of happiness, so by teaching gratitude for kids, you are literally laying the foundation for them to feel happy! It’s much more than simple politeness or the habit of saying “thank you” to a store clerk or someone who holds the door for you. Gratitude is an amazing tool that helps children, from an early age, notice the good things around them.
When Can You Start to Teach Gratitude?
One mom on Reddit shared how her two-year-old got upset because she didn’t thank her when the child handed her a little bag that had fallen. So, at around two years old, your child already understands what gratitude is, can express it toward others, and can expect the same in return.
How to Teach Gratitude to Children of Different Ages
When you are forming the habit of saying “thank you,” children of any age can be offered thankful activities. Some gratitude activities for kids can be presented as a game, while others can be part of a shared family practice, tradition, or rule that everyone follows: both parents and their kids.
Thankful Activities for Toddlers
Little children don’t always understand explanations, but they are excellent imitators. Therefore, the best way to teach gratitude from an early age is to lead by example and show it through your own behavior. When you thank the barista who made your coffee, the store clerk, your partner at home, or even your child when they do what you ask, they see and absorb this type of behavior. Show gratitude when you receive gifts, when someone does something for you, or even to God for a sunny day.
It’s also wonderful to prepare gifts or cards together with your toddler for friends and family. This not only teaches them to say “thank you” but also shows how pleasant it is to receive gratitude from others.
Don’t expect that a single lesson will be enough – this should be a consistent model, a behavior pattern your child can adopt. Don’t hesitate to express any gratitude out loud: “Thank you for helping your sister get dressed,” “Thank you for putting your toys back in the box,” “Thank you for the little stones you collected for me during our walk, they are magical.”
Thankful Activities for Preschoolers
At preschool age, children are more ready for active learning, so you can try adding a few special thankful activities for preschoolers to the previous list. Here are a few simple examples, though you can always add your own ideas:
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Choose bedtime books where the main characters have the opportunity to thank their friends for help or receive gratitude themselves.
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Discuss the storylines and talk about what the main and secondary characters could be grateful for in the tale you read.
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Create a Gratitude Jar. Each evening, add one or more slips of paper with notes of gratitude: “Today it was so fun playing in the kindergarten, and I’m thankful to my friends for the fun game,” “Mom made a delicious pie for dinner,” and so on. When your child feels upset, or when it’s appropriate, you can open the jar and read together the moments that brought joy.
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Similarly, a Gratitude Tree works in the same way. You can make it from simple materials and add new leaves each time you feel grateful for something. This visual example shows that the more gratitude there is, the more beautiful the tree becomes. You can explain to your child that the heart also becomes more beautiful with gratitude.
These seemingly simple thankful activities for preschoolers create a space where the child can practice and reinforce the useful habit of giving thanks.
Gratitude Activities for Teens
During adolescence, kids begin the process of separating from their parents, so sometimes they start resisting familiar rules. For parents, this can be as challenging as raising a toddler. Nevertheless, gratitude activities for teens remain essential:
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Maintain the family tradition of giving thanks. Continue to be a role model.
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Encourage your teen to volunteer at an animal shelter, help a friend, or perform other acts of kindness. This gives them more opportunities to receive gratitude in return.
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Hold family gatherings during holidays where each family member expresses thanks for something, taking turns. This works wonderfully for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
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Suggest that your teen keep a gratitude journal. They don’t need to show it to anyone; this is a personal diary where they can write, for example, three things they are grateful for today. This shifts focus to the positive things happening around them.
Keeping a gratitude journal is also beneficial for adults, so you might consider starting one for yourself, too.
Exercises and Games for Teaching Gratitude to Kids of All Ages
There are several gratitude activities for kids suitable for toddlers, school-age children, and adults alike:
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Practice giving compliments. Among all possible thankful activities, this one is particularly practical – it teaches gratitude and supports socialization. Practice giving compliments at home in a circle: each person compliments everyone else. Then take it outside – compliment a neighbor, relative, store clerk, or even strangers when appropriate. Start a chain of kindness with a single compliment today – this teaches gratitude for kids and adults alike.
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Add a few gratitude games for kids. For example, play a “Gratitude Bingo.” Make homemade cards with prompts like: “I feel grateful for the nice weather,” “I feel grateful for delicious food,” “I’m grateful for friends who make me smile,” etc. Children mark squares when they share their responses.
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Play “Hot Potato” with a twist. All participants pass a ball around the circle or toss it to a random player. Whoever catches it must say something they are grateful for before passing it on.
With these gratitude games for kids, saying “thank you” quickly becomes a useful habit that lasts a lifetime. Importantly, this approach to teaching gratitude for kids is subtle and therefore very effective.
Final Thoughts
We encourage teaching gratitude for kids not to make them obedient or perfect, but to help them notice the good things they have through this practice. This is crucial because appreciating small joys builds an overall positive mindset. Such individuals cope with challenges more easily and don’t fear problems – they find reasons to smile and give thanks every day.
