15+ Gratitude Activities for Kids

These gratitude activities for kids are perfect for Thanksgiving and a great way to teach each family member gratitude using these gratitude exercises. Kids of all ages will benefit all the benefit things that come with learning thankfulness. These fun gratitude activities are perfect for at the home or in the classroom.

Gratitude Activities

Showing our gratitude is important throughout the entire year. During the holidays though, it takes on new meaning. Get extra creative showing thanks with these Gratitude Activities for Kids which include activities, crafts and conversation starters that can help your entire family embrace a culture of gratitude.

Teaching Kindness is Important

Teaching children kindness from an early age is crucial as it lays the foundation for their emotional and social development, fostering empathy and healthy relationships. When children learn to be kind, they not only contribute to a more compassionate society but also gain essential life skills such as cooperation, understanding, and respect for others. Teaching kindness while kids are young helps in developing a strong sense of self-esteem and well-being, as children who practice kindness are often happier and more positive in their outlook on life.

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Favorite Gratitude Activities for Kids

1. Random Acts Of Kindness

Download and print our random acts of kindness cards for kids and create a family jar or fun ideas to do together. The holidays are a wonderful time to stop and remember the great things in our lives–to appreciate our blessings, and try and find ways to bless others. 

2. Handout Homemade Chocolate Bars

If you enjoy giving to show your thanks, here is a fun Handmade Turkey Chocolate Bar Wrappers your kids can help make, from The Educator’s Spin On It.

3. Make A Gratitude Jar

Make a leaf-covered Gratitude Jar to hold all of the things you are thankful for. Write down a new one each day, and watch the jar fill up!

4. Thankful Turkey Can

Create a special place to write your thank-you’s, by making this Thankful Turkey Pencil Can craft. It also comes with a free printable!

5. Gratitude Wreath 

Make a Gratitude Wreath with this idea from Artistro. It is a simple wreath craft using cardboard and construction paper with things written on the wreath leaves and fall shapes that you are thankful for. We love the idea of using your hand as the template on paper; cut, trace and glue to the Thanksgiving wreath craft!

6. Free Printable Thank You Cards

Teach your little ones to send thank you cards early by printing these Free Printable Fill-in-the-Blank Cards and having them write in the details.

7. Gratitude Tree

This Gratitude Tree is a gorgeous craft makes a great Thanksgiving centerpiece. Use real tree branches in a glass container to hang tags filled with the things your thankful for. This thankful tree is a simple way to instill positive emotion and teach your kids that the most simple things in life are important.

8. I Am Thankful Printable Activity

Color and fill-in-the-blanks of this cute (and free!) Thanksgiving Printable from Nurture Store. This is one of the best gratitude activities for older kids.

9. Thankful Turkey

We are loving this idea from Mommy Lessons 101! Make a Thankful Turkey out of paper, and fill all of its feathers with the things you are thankful for.

10. Thankfulness Trees

The DIY Mommy Thankfulness Trees are easy and meaningful crafts. Cut leaves out of construction paper and cut out paper, and then write the things you are grateful for on them!

11. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Ever do a gratitude scavenger hunt? This is one of the best ways to learn about thankfulness! Simply Full of Delight has free printable gratitude scavenger hunt that your whole family will enjoy.

12. Create A Gratitude Wall

What is a gratitude wall? A gratitude wall is a wall decorated with sticky notes and paper that you can write on and say the things you are thankful for. This would be perfect in the classroom and a Heart Full of Joy has the most lovely printables for this. This is perfect for younger students and even bigger students.

13. Make A Gratitude Flower

Gratitude flowers are so pretty, easy to do, and is one of the more fun gratitude crafts that can teach your kids to be thankful. Gardening Know How has instructions on how to make gratitude flowers!

Here are some additional flower crafts that you could adapt into gratitude flowers:

• Easy flower crafts
• Tissue paper flowers
• Coffee filter flowers
• Paper plate flower craft
• Sunflower crafts
• Pretty flower crafts
• Cupcake liner flowers

14. Gratitude Stones

Love painting rocks? Then you’ll love this Gratitude stone craft from Fire Flies and Mudpies. Learn to say thank you and be thankful for all the things people do from them by teaching them to do an act of kindness in return!

More gratitude rock ideas:

• Painted heart rocks
• Painted rock ideas
• Create a rock walk

15. Gratitude Mobile

Keep busy before Thanksgiving dinner by making this Gratitude mobile Thanksgiving craft! Write down all the people you are thankful for on the leaves! This thankful craft from Rhythms of Play is so great!

Related: Use this leaf template for making easy fall leaves for crafting

16. Gratitude Journaling

Write down all the things you’re thankful for with gratitude journaling! Here are some gratitude journal writing prompts for kids and some gratitude journal writing prompts for adults.

MORE WAYS TO BE THANKFUL FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG

• Crafts are a great way to connect with your kids, as well as Helping Kids Express Gratitude.
• We have other great ways to teach your children to be thankful like this Gratitude Pumpkin.
• Download & print these gratitude quote cards for kids to decorate and give.
• Kids can make their own gratitude journal with these free printable pages.
• Gratitude coloring pages have prompts for kids to describe what they are thankful for.
• Make your own handmade gratitude journal – it is an easy project with these simple steps.
• Read favorite books together with this list of Thanksgiving books for kids.
• Looking for more? Check out the rest of our Thanksgiving games and activities for the family.
• Check out these gratitude activities for kids!

How do you show gratitude in daily life with your kids? Comment below!