Teaching Kids Gratitude | 20 Thanksgiving Activities for Children

Teaching kids gratitude is so important in today’s world. Here are 20 fun and creative ways to teach kids gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.

Teaching kids gratitude: It’s a tricky one.  It’s vitally important to one’s happiness, but it is very, very easy to get caught up in our daily lives and woes and forget to be grateful for what we have.  And if it is hard for adults to remember to be grateful for their blessings, then it should come as no surprise that kids often end up acting infuriatingly entitled.  So, how does one go about teaching kids about gratitude? First and foremost, they need to see their parents and the adults around them modeling an attitude of gratitude!  I need to work on that.

Secondly, we can talk to them about it, but in my experience, as a former elementary school teacher, I have found that kids always learn better by DOING.  They need to DO something and get messy or active or artistic or silly in order to have something really sink in.  And that, my friends, is why I have put together this roundup today of twenty ideas from around the web for teaching kids gratitude through activities and fun.

I hope that you take the time to browse these ideas and to incorporate a bit of extra attitude of gratitude into your families and lives.  I will be striving to do the same!

My favorite idea for teaching kids gratitude is making Gratitude Hand Turkeys.

This is a family tradition that dates back to my childhood, and which also serves as a family journal and time capsule of sorts.  Come see the details and read the sweet (warning: tear-jerking!) story behind the tradition HERE.

Gratitude Hand Turkeys from Bombshell Bling

Turkey Gratitude Jar from Bombshell Bling

Celebrate Gratitude – 5 Ideas to Teach Gratitude to Kids From Crazy Little Projects

Thanksgiving Handprint Tree Craft from Crafts by Amanda

My ABC’s of Thanksgiving from This Reading Mama

Thanksgiving Time Capsule from PBS Parents

Teaching Your Children the Importance of Gratitude from Family Share

Giving Thanks Station: A Family Tradition from Balancing Home

Gratitude Pumpkins from The Joys of Boys

Family Thankful Tree from Creative Juice

Family Thanksgiving Journal from Kids Activities Blog

DIY Thankful Board from U Create

Gratitude Activity Jar from Inner Child Fun

Count Your Blessings Tree from Somewhat Simple

6 Activities to Teach Kids Gratitude from Everyday Family

A Thanks & Giving Countdown from Chocolate on my Cranium

9 Ways to Fill November with Joy of Gratitude from Power of Moms

A Runner of Thanks from Finding Home Online

Thanksgiving Styrofoam Turkey from Crafts by Amanda

Garland of Gratitude from Family Fun

I hope that you enjoy teaching kids gratitude and your kids have a ball doing some of these activities!  Happy Thanksgiving!

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy these posts:

Make a Silly Turkey Placemat Using Fall Leaves

Rick Rack Turkey Shirt

For more great ideas from all over the web be sure to follow my Thanksgiving Pinterest board.

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Sarah Westover McKenna

Sarah is the scattered creative mind behind Bombshell Bling. A former elementary school teacher and a current stay-at-home mom, she loves developing her creativity through her blog and her jewelry design business, Bombshell Bling Jewelry. Sarah is a lover of all things vintage, colorful, and BLING. She is also a sweets addict with a major obsession with s'mores.

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