From 1 to 100 years old, practicing gratitude and generosity is good for us all – whether that’s in the giving and receiving of gifts, taking stock of things that make us feel good inside, or volunteering to help others in need. By building moments like this into our day-to-day routines we create a habit of being thankful. We also encourage our children to build a caring, unselfish relationship with the world around them.
Take time to recognize the things your family is grateful for throughout the holiday season and all year long. Check out the articles and activities below for ideas on how to appreciate those who help us, ways to talk with our children about concepts like gratitude and generosity, and steps to turn those conversations into actions!
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Put Generosity & Gratitude into Practice
For Greater Happiness, Teach Gratitude
Grades PreK-3
How can we fit more opportunities to express gratitude into our already packed schedules? Try a few of these strategies for making expressions of thanks part of your family’s daily routine.
Tips for Volunteering With Kids
Grades PreK-3
Learning the value of helping people and places in need can be the start of a lifelong commitment to giving. Here are some helpful ways to get your child involved in community service.
Finding Gratitude During Difficult Times
Grades PreK-3
During the season of “thanks,” when many are focusing on their blessings, it is tough if your family is struggling through times of stress or a crisis. But just how can you encourage gratitude when a dark cloud is looming? Challenge yourself today to adopt one of these tips as a good first step.
The Amazing Effects of Gratitude | Braincraft
Grades 6-12
Be grateful, it’s good for you! Learn about the science of gratitude and how it benefits our minds, bodies and relationships with this video from Braincraft.
Activities, Books & More
Make a Coupon Book to Give As a Gift
Grades PreK-3
Encourage your child to perform acts of kindness by creating a coupon book to show they care.
Books to Inspire Gratitude
Grades PreK-4
What does it mean to be thankful, why is it so important, and what should our families be thankful for? Sometimes the best way to explain these concepts to kids is with books. Check out these books that inspire gratitude for kids ages 0-9.
Thanksgiving Time Capsule
Grades K-5
Teaching young children about being thankful can be tricky! Thankfulness is an abstract concept and kids thrive with concrete ideas. This hands-on activity is a great way to learn about and model the idea of thankfulness as a family.
Young Peace Leaders: Cultivating Gratitude
Grades 3-8
What does giving thanks mean to you? In order to explore gratitude, students discuss the meaning of giving thanks and create flags to symbolize what they are grateful for in this video from The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values. Students learn that by expressing gratitude, they can come to appreciate the kindness of others and the importance of their relationships with family, friends, and teachers!
Gratitude Jam | Social & Emotional Learning: The Arts for Every Classroom
Grades 3-12
What are you grateful for? And how can those things inspire you to improvise music with your classmates? Percussion and SEL educator Yeshima of the Louisville Leopard Percussionists and DrumSmart LLC leads students in a jam session based on things they feel grateful for and explains how to adapt the activity to any environment, with or without drums! From counting to rhythm to communication to cultivating a positive attitude, students learn while having fun and reflecting.