There is a lot of talk about gratitude, daily gratitude practices, and gratitude journals. But what does gratitude actually mean, and why is it important to teach it to children? Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves focusing on the good in our lives and appreciating the things that bring us joy, including the people, experiences, and supports we often take for granted.
Gratitude is partly an intentional practice. It involves noticing what is working well, what we have, and what brings meaning, even when life feels challenging. When children learn to recognize and express gratitude, they build emotional skills that support well-being, relationships, and resilience over time.
What are the Long-Term Benefits of Learning Gratitude?
Feeling positive emotions opens us up to more possibilities and helps balance out or mitigate negative emotions. When we feel grateful, we are more likely to make good decisions and be open to learning. It also helps shape our behaviors if they are aligned with gratitude. Showing kindness and compassion can create stronger relationships with those around us. Our actions help create loving bonds, trust, and positive connections.
There is mounting research that indicates the importance of gratitude to our children’s mental well-being. In 2019, The Journal of Happiness published a study linking gratitude to happiness in children younger than 5.1 What this means is that if we can create a “gratitude attitude” in our little people, it could help them be happier as they grow up. A 2008 study found that children who demonstrate gratitude feel happier, are more optimistic about life, and are more satisfied with their school, family, friends, and themselves.2
In 2011, a study highlighted that children who grow up to be grateful teens are better at utilizing their strengths to build and improve their communities, are more satisfied with their lives, are more engaged in school with better grades, and are less depressed than their peers who aren’t grateful.3
So, if gratitude is a great predictor of future success and happiness, how can we teach our kids gratitude?
How to Teach Children Gratitude
Teaching gratitude does not require perfection or rigid routines. Small, consistent practices woven into everyday life can help children notice, reflect on, and express appreciation naturally.
Create a Gratitude Habit
At times, we can experience a sense of gratitude spontaneously, but we can also encourage feelings of gratitude by deliberately focusing on our blessings. This is where daily gratitudes or gratitude journals come into play.
Getting our kids to think about things they appreciate and are thankful for brings them to their attention. If we repeat this exposure, it slowly becomes a habit, and they will more easily be able to employ behaviors or thoughts that bring gratitude to the forefront.
Related: Gratitude Exercises and Activities for Kids
Model Gratitude for Them
Research indicates that children whose parents demonstrate gratitude are, in turn, more likely to be grateful themselves.4 This is because they not only see the value and behavior in action, but they experience it first-hand when their parent shows gratitude or demonstrates acts of compassion (which is a byproduct of gratitude). When we experience acts of kindness, we are more likely to “pass it on” and be kind to others. So, practice what you preach if you want your child to learn the value of gratitude.
Ask Gratitude Questions
Gratitude is more than just doing; it’s also what we notice, think, and feel. Instead of expecting our children to say or do kind things, we want them to think and feel—and create a clear sense of connection to why they are grateful or what makes them grateful. For example, instead of saying thank you if someone lets them into the line, you could ask them why they feel happy about being let in.
Examples of How Kids Can Show Gratitude
Gratitude doesn’t just have to be saying ‘thank you,’ but also showing people that we appreciate them. That could mean random acts of kindness, such as helping a sick relative, writing a thank-you letter, or donating items to a local charity.
Other ways we can teach kids to show gratitude include:
Create a Family Gratitude Jar
Everyone gets a jar with their name on it, and you each write things that make you feel grateful for that person and pop them in their jar. When someone is having a tough day or feeling a bit down, they can go and read one of the comments.
Read Books with Diverse Characters and Experiences
Expand their circle of concern to increase empathy and encourage them to think about others. Reading books with diverse characters and stories can help them think about others’ life experiences. It might create opportunities for them to express gratitude for what they have in their lives or understand what others value in theirs.
Related: Books About Gratitude for Kids
Ask Them to Find the Silver Lining in Failure
Help them see past the challenge and what didn’t work. It’s easy to get caught up in difficult things. So, encourage them to create a sense of balance by asking what worked well or finding a silver lining. Try asking them, “I can see you were disappointed your team didn’t win, but can you think about one thing you and your team did well?”
Start a Gratitude Ritual
As a family, take a few minutes each day to share what you are grateful for. You can share something each night at dinner or on the drive to school. It could even be setting a weekly challenge to express your gratitude that week.
Teaching children gratitude is a meaningful investment in their emotional well-being and development. Practicing gratitude can support happiness, resilience, and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. When children learn to focus on what is working well and appreciate the people around them, they build skills that serve them throughout life. Even small practices can make a lasting difference.
