5 Ways To Teach Kids Thankfulness

“Thank you”

A simple phrase that we love to teach our kids or students. It is a respectful response that should be used often.

However, thankfulness goes beyond the words and phrases we use. Instead, a thankful posture grows out of a heart of gratitude. Below are 5 ways to help your students or children mature in gratitude and move beyond a simple phrase into a constant state of thankfulness.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Prayer is a simple yet powerful way to teach thankfulness. The next time you pray with children, lead them in a prayer of thanksgiving. The format for this style of prayer is to have the child list something or someone they are thankful for and say, “God, thank you for ______”. You continue the prayer until the child has run out of people or items for prayer. For concrete thinkers (elementary age) give them a goal to reach, such as to thank God for ten people or things in their life.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” – Psalm 9:1

Thankfulness Board

Grab a whiteboard or large sheet of paper and set it around your home, classroom, or church. Allow kids to write and draw pictures of what they are thankful for on this board. Incorporate the board in a weekly routine so that children are constantly engaging with their creative side while striving to grow in thankfulness.

Thank You Cards

Anytime your child receives presents for Christmas or their birthday, sit down with them and help them write thank you cards. As a Sunday school or classroom project, set aside some time to write thank you cards for police officers, fire fighters, soldiers, government officials and local businesses. Don’t have the budget to buy cards? You can print some for free on Greetings Island Thank You Cards

Gratitude Walk

The next time you take kids on a walk, go for a gratitude walk. As you stroll to your destination, have kids point toward objects around them and say “I am thankful for _____”. For kids that may have a harder time staying focused on this activity, make it into a Gratitude I Spy Game by stating, “I am thankful for something that is the color _____”. After a kid guesses the correct object, have everyone proclaim together “We are thankful for ______” (the object just guessed).

Local Thankfulness

Bake a tray of cookies and buy a simple box or bag from the dollar store that can be decorated by kids. Package up the cookies and take kids on a trip to a local business or government building. Go inside and have the children offer the gift of cookies to an employee by sharing how they are thankful for that person or business. It is a truly sweet moment when you can see the shock on an employee’s face at the practice of gratitude by a child. Several stores that have worked well for me in the past include: City Hall, YMCA, Recreation Centers, and Small Retail locations.

By putting some of the above activities into practice, you can teach children that thankfulness goes beyond a simple phrase and is a lifestyle that comes from a heart of gratitude.

Looking for another “No Mess” way to teach children about Gratitude? Check out our Gratitude Object Lesson Blog Post.

A Few Things About Gratitude

Gratitude slows us down.

We have to pause to think. To appreciate. To name the very thing we are so grateful for.

Gratitude gives us perspective.

Tired of the same clothing? Or thankful we have something to wear.

Embarrassed at the rattle trap vehicle? Or thankful that we have transportation.

Gratitude changes our heart.

It takes the focus off ourselves and onto God.

Research has shown that we receive 3000 messages a day telling us that we aren’t happy, we don’t have enough or we aren’t enough. That’s a reason to make sure we are incorporating practices of gratitude into our lives to counteract these messages. Here is a place to start.

Some gratitude practices:

1. Write a letter to someone expressing gratitude. Maybe an old neighbor, a teacher, a friend- someone you haven’t seen in awhile. Let them know the difference they made.
2. Keep a gratitude journal. Each day write five things you are thankful for.
3. Sit quietly. Express gratitude for each sound you hear.
4. Read Psalm 138. Let the words soak down deep.
5. With a group of friends or around the Thanksgiving table with family, take turns answering these questions:

Name three of God’s gifts in this room.

Name someone who made a difference in your life.

Name something that made you laugh today.

What was your favorite part of today?

What two words would you use to describe the person on your right?

 

What are you grateful for today?

Monday Mornings: Prayer Wall, Candles, and Holy Week

Thinking of each of you knee deep in ministry this week. All the extra prep and expectations and work and energy pointing toward Sunday- Resurrection Day.

And knowing that many of you if not all are struggling somewhere. . . with something. . . with someone.

For some it might be

Lord, we pray for healing.

Lord, we surrender.

Lord, we pray for deliverance.

Lord, we pray for those disconnected from you.

Lord, we say a prayer of Thanksgiving.

Lord, we pray in your name.

This morning I pray for you-those of you who visit this blog- who minister each week-who pour out their lives for kids. And this week I will add you to our prayer wall at church. Just a simple long white piece of paper pinned to a wall surrounded by tables full of candles- each one symbolizing a prayer and the hope that the Light of the World brings to that prayer. Each night these candles lit at 8 pm. A reminder. A thing of beauty- the faith and hope represented here. Knowing that you do not walk this alone.

What can I pray for you?

Leave a comment with your struggle, your hope, your need. We’ll write it on the wall for you.