Gratitude Activities for Kids- Make a Gratitude Garland

When interacting and working with all children perspective taking and appreciation are important concepts to encourage. When working and playing with children who have social-cognitive deficits this is a critical skill to teach. Children with autism spectrum disorder do not intend to ignore other people’s feelings they just don’t realize that they are supposed to take that into consideration. This is part of “Theory of Mind” where people naturally intuit that they are part of a group and that the group matters. If this does not come naturally, it needs to be taught. Learning to express gratitude encourages thoughtfulness.

All of us benefit when we reflect on what we feel grateful for. It takes the focus off what may not be going well and redirects our thoughts to more positive thoughts. Try some gratitude activities for kids and see what a difference in makes in their attitude toward life.

• Theory of Mind
• Perspective Taking
• Social-Emotional
• Fine motor
• Hand Strength
• Categorizing

Materials for your Gratitude Garland:

• Pieces of colored paper cut into squares
• Hole punch
• Pens, crayons or markers
• String or Ribbon

• Discuss what gratitude is and whom you are grateful for and why.
• Cut small squares out of colored paper. Have the children decide what color goes with what feeling of gratitude. For example, if you are grateful for ice cream that may be pink or if you are grateful for a friend’s laughter that may be purple, etc.
• Punch a hole in each square of paper.
• Write down something that they are grateful for on to each square. Encourage the child to think about people, what they like about them and how they feel about others.
• String the squares on the ribbon or string.
• Have the children look at each other’s gratitude garlands and talk about what they wrote.
• Have the children make a gratitude garland for someone else, making the squares about what makes them grateful that that person is their friend.

What are you grateful for?

• Fun Learning with Kids has started a Thankful Turkey Wreath Tradition.
• Natural Beach Living has an attractive collection of Thankful Thanksgiving Printables for kids.
• Check out Creative Family Fun's Gratitude Conversation Starters.
• Fireflies and Mudpies has a fun activity making Gratitude Stones to give to people.
• Mum in the Madhouse started a family tradition of writing in a Family Gratitude Journal.