Nurturing Gratitude in Early Childhood: Strategies and Activities for Home and School

Gratitude is a powerful social-emotional skill that supports empathy, resilience, and positive relationships. In early childhood, teaching gratitude goes beyond encouraging children to say “thank you” it involves helping them notice kindness, reflect on their feelings, and express appreciation in meaningful ways (Hussong et al., 2018).

🧠 Why Gratitude Matters

Children who regularly practice gratitude tend to experience greater emotional well-being, stronger social bonds, and increased optimism (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Gratitude also helps children recognize the efforts of others, which fosters empathy and a sense of community (Novotney, 2023).

🧩 Four Key Components of Gratitude

According to developmental psychologist Andrea Hussong, gratitude in children can be understood through four components:

1. Noticing – Becoming aware of something they’ve received.
2. Thinking – Reflecting on why they received it.
3. Feeling – Experiencing positive emotions about the gift or gesture.
4. Doing – Expressing appreciation through words or actions (Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2023).

🏡 Activities for Parents to Foster Gratitude at Home

Here are simple, developmentally appropriate activities that families can use to nurture gratitude in young children:

1. Gratitude Search: Encourage children to “look for gratitude” in their daily lives. Ask them to find something or someone that made their day better. Use prompts like:

• “What made you smile today?”
• “Who helped you today?” Children can draw or talk about their answers (Making Caring Common, n.d.).

2. Thankful Heart Jar: Place a jar in a visible spot and invite children to add a note or drawing each day about something they’re thankful for. Read the notes together at the end of the week to reflect on the good moments.

3. Storytime Reflection: After reading a book, ask questions like:

• “Was there a character who helped someone?”
• “How do you think that made them feel?” Books like Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson or The Thankful Book by Todd Parr are great conversation starters.

4. Modeling Gratitude: Children learn by watching. Narrate your own gratitude aloud:

“I’m so thankful for this warm cup of tea. It helps me feel cozy.”

This models the noticing and feeling components of gratitude (Hussong et al., 2018).

6. Gratitude Letters or Drawings: Help your child create a thank-you card or picture for someone who has helped them. This could be a teacher, a neighbor, or a family member. Talk about why they’re thankful and how the person made them feel.
7. Dinner Table Gratitude Ritual: Make it a habit to go around the table and share one thing each person is grateful for. This builds a routine of reflection and appreciation.

💬 Tips for Parents

• Be patient: Young children are still developing the cognitive skills needed for abstract thinking. Focus on concrete examples of gratitude, like being thankful for a favorite toy or a hug from a friend.
• Avoid forced gratitude: Instead of insisting children say “thank you,” help them understand why they might feel grateful. This builds intrinsic motivation (Novotney, 2023).
• Use everyday moments: Waiting in line, walking to school, or cleaning up toys can all be opportunities to talk about what we’re thankful for.

📚 Final Thoughts

Gratitude is a skill that grows with time, modeling, and practice. By embedding gratitude into daily routines and conversations, families and educators can help children develop a lifelong habit of appreciation and empathy.

 

📖 References (APA 7th Edition)

• Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377
• Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2023, November 2). How to raise grateful children. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/23/11/how-raise-grateful-children
• Hussong, A. M., Langley, H. A., Rothenberg, W. A., Coffman, J. L., Halberstadt, A. G., Costanzo, P. R., & Mokrova, I. (2018). Raising grateful children one day at a time. Applied Developmental Science, 23(4), 371–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1441713
• Making Caring Common. (n.d.). How to help kids develop gratitude. Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/develop-gratitude
• Novotney, A. (2023, November 21). Stop telling your kids to be grateful. Show them how instead. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/parenting/cultivating-gratitude-kids