Teaching kids to be grateful is an important character quality we want each of our kids to have. There are many ways we as parents can instill the importance of a thankful and grateful heart. Continue reading for ideas on how you can teach your kiddos!
I will start by giving a little back ground on how the idea of creating a Thankful Poster came to be…
At the beginning of the New Year, my two oldest kiddos started attending a new public charter school. This was a whole new world to them as they had been homeschooled all the previous years.
We all knew this would be a big adjustment and new adventure – filled with many unknowns. We went in with positive attitudes.
After 2 weeks at the new school my kids started to grow weary of this change and longed to return home for school.
They came home from school grumpy and with a complaining attitude. They only expressed what they didn’t like about the new school.
As their parents we tried to help point out the good about going to a new school, but it wasn’t taking hold.
Complaints continued and our ears grew weary of the negative talk.
This is when my husband and I started thinking about how we could actively start teaching kids to be grateful.
How do you teach gratitude to kids?
Lead By Example
It starts at home with us. We are the first influence on our child’s life and from the time they can walk they are watching and imitating us.
Are we as parents openly expressing complaints or dissatisfaction? It could be as small as “My coffee was too sweet, why can’t they get the order right?!”
Our kids are watching us and modeling after us. As parents we need to set the example and openly express gratefulness and thankfulness.
Speak It
Let your kids hear you saying thank you. Let them hear you giving praise to the Lord for a beautiful day.
Make sure we are thanking our kids for picking up their toys or making their bed each morning.
They in turn will express thanks to us because we have modeled it to them.
Write It
Write in a journal daily what you are thankful for. Younger kids can draw pictures in a journal.Make it a family journal to record what you are grateful for.
What Are Activities Kids Can Do To Express Gratitude?
Send Thank You Notes
Expressing gratitude with written words is so powerful. Have kids sent a thank you note for a recent gift they may have received.
Give a thank you note to service persons in your town (mail carriers, police, doctors).
A handwritten note shows how much you care.
Squash Complaints
For every complaint your child verbalizes have them give you 3 reasons they are thankful. After they have expressed gratitude it almost always “squashes” the complaint.
Prayers of Praise
Have your kids pray and thank God for their blessings. Teaching kids to be grateful is something that God wants them and us to practice.
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Bless Others
Kids can learn to be thankful by blessing others. Not just monetarily, but with words. Teach them to say thank you when being served at a restaurant or to pay a compliment to a friend.
Be Helpful
Teaching kids to be grateful can start at home. Give your kids tasks at home that will help the family.
Have little ones set the dinner table. Have older kids fold the laundry.
Make sure they know these acts of service bless the family.
Read Books That Teach Gratefulness
Get books from your local library that talk about thankfulness and gratefulness.
Here are a few that we have read with our kids and enjoyed:
Making a Gratitude Poster
After getting some feedback from friends I came up with the idea of a Gratitude Poster.
I took a giant sheet of paper and wrote at the top “Give thanks in all circumstances. I Thessalonians 5:18” followed by “I will: Look at the good. Say ‘Thank You’. & Count my blessings.”
The rest of the poster was blank. I taped it onto the front of our refrigerator and placed several markers next to the fridge.
At dinner time, I introduced the poster to the family and explained that each day I wanted all of us to add one thing we were thankful for.
At first my two older kiddos thought it was a dumb idea. But after watching myself and my husband add to the poster they decided to join in.
The poster remained up for the entire month and by the end we were trying to squeeze in our notes of thankfulness.
It was great to have it displayed in our kitchen. When family and friends came over they saw all the reasons we had to be thankful. Some friends even added their own notes of thankfulness.
The poster was a daily reminder of all of our blessings and helped our kids find the good in their school day and stop focusing on the bad.
Using this poster idea is a great way to count your blessings leading up to Thanksgiving.
How To Make A Gratitude Poster To Countdown to Thanksgiving
Supplies:
- Poster board or giant piece of paper
- Markers
- Printable quote (see image above)
- Tape or magnets
Grab the printable in the Freebie Library by filling in the form below!
Instructions:
- Cut the poster board to fit the front of your fridge or space.
- Hand write or use the printable phrases and attach them to your poster.
- Hang your poster on the refrigerator, pantry or any high traffic area in your home with adhesive or magnets.
- Place a jar or basket of markers next to the poster.
How To Use The Poster
Use your poster daily leading up to Thanksgiving by writing something you are thankful for on it.
Have a family meeting or talk to each family member individually. Tell them to write something they are grateful or thankful for each day to the poster.
For littles who can’t write, have them draw a picture on the poster.
Continue adding daily to your poster leading up to Thanksgiving. To make it easy to remember – add it to your kids bedtime routine or have them write on it each night after dinner.
On Thanksgiving Day take your poster down and read each item that was added. Have family members take turns reading.
If you are going to another person’s house for the Thanksgiving meal take your poster with you and share it with your family and friends.
It really is fun to read and reflect on all the things we have to be thankful and grateful for.
Here are some of the things my family wrote on our poster:
- Friends
- Family
- Chicken
- A house
I’d love to see your family’s Gratitude Posters. Be sure to tag me on Facebook or Instagram so I can see them!!
