The Tree of Gratitude(Ages 5-9)
Create a gratitude centerpiece. This tree is a simple but elegant way to display what you are thankful for.
Thanksgiving Jar(Ages 3-9)
Throughout the year, have your kids write or draw what they are thankful for on smooth stones, and drop them into a special jar. At Thanksgiving, pull out the rocks and talk about the things you are thankful for this year.
Pumpkin of Gratitude(Ages 7-16)
How to practice gratitude with pumpkins: this project is simple, but it turns out beautifully. Each member of your family can make their own pumpkin to display on the dinner table.
Gratitude Chain(Ages 5-8)
It’s a great, kid-friendly project to remind the people around you to be grateful for the little things in life! You can hang your gratitude chain by tying strings around both ends of your chain and taping them to the wall. We also love the idea of using the garland as tabletop decor!
“We Love You Because…” Treasure Hunt(Ages 2-9)
Show your neighbor, friend, or family how grateful you are to have them in your life with a little treasure hunt. Busy lives and full days, means we often forget to stop and express how grateful we are for each other. This treasure hunt is a fun and heart-warming way to say thank you for the simple things we often take for granted.
Let us know in the comments below! A big thank you to everyone who made it to the bottom of this blog post, and for continuing to engage your kids in hands-on learning through KiwiCo projects and/or in other ways.
How to Practice Gratitude: 5 Awesome Family Projects
In the last few years, gratitude has come to light as an accessible way to increase happiness and even change our brains (thanks neuroplasticity!). Researchers are studying how to best practice gratitude and developing this field to help us better understand how gratitude affects our kids’ brains, bodies, and communities.
With all of that new research, it’s no surprise that so many parents are wondering how their kids can practice gratitude. What games should you play with your child? What awesome projects can you do together to practice gratitude? Parents want to bring gratitude into their family activities beyond Thanksgiving Day or week, but they struggle to find simple and practical ways to keep it up. Below, we’ve collected an updated list of 10 hands-on projects to try at home with your family any time of year!