Simple Ways to Teach Children to Be Thankful Through Games

Thankfulness: Why Does It Matter to Kids?

Being thankful is the ability to seek positive emotions in one’s life. It can be doings, moments, and people for which or whom you are grateful. If you have them, you are lucky! To be thankful means to be a happy person who gives joy to others.

Children do not perceive this concept at such a deep level. They have their explanation, though. There are such things kids are thankful for as:

•  reading bedtime stories;
•  a walk in the park;
•  a birthday gift;
•  a huge ice cream;
•  permission to adopt a dog;
•  a new dress;
•  a lego city set, etc.

Kids are not able to see the true value of parental care. However, they will. If you teach them to appreciate the things from the list above, they grow up to be thankful kids. Use thankful games to achieve your goals.  

Thanksgiving Icebreakers

There are dozens of games dedicated to developing a sense of thankfulness. But, what to do if a child is kept to himself? There may be some reasons for it, but we know for sure that thanksgiving icebreakers can cope with it. Let’s look at the most popular ones.

Create Thank You Cards

It may be hard to open up for the first time, so writing down the thoughts is a brilliant solution to start with. Tell your kids to think about the design, the colors of ink, and some other features of a card. It will make them realize the significance of the moment. The more they take care of making cards, the more they are willing to reveal their thankfulness. Start small. Let it be short thanks like the following ones:

• Thank you for hugging me; 
• Thanks for playing with me;
• Thank you for candy, etc.

Gratitude Wall

Hang a small board on a wall. Ask a kid to write on a sticky note paper three reasons to be thankful. Do it twice a week. Stick the notes on a board and say to your child that he becomes happier every time the new one appears on it. You may read the notes aloud. Being involved in such a thankful game, tell the child why it is vital to be grateful.

These two ice breakers are good for preschoolers. Besides, there is one more option for all ages.

 Look, I’m on TV!

That is the name of one of the most hard-hitting thanksgiving ice breakers. Actually, it is a thankfulness game for youth. One needs a group of people to play it because there must be a reporter and a cameraman. The reporter interviews each person. The task is to ask about:

•  people whom the person is grateful to;
•  situations that made us better;
•  pets that stole our hearts;
•  books that inspire;
•  a taxi driver who shared a smile, etc.

Such thankful activities can be more fun if one shows the video on TV right after having it shot. Good humor is guaranteed. 

Thankful Thursday Ideas

All ages are welcome to take part in it. Besides, you have a fair opportunity to get to know about the things kids are thankful for.

Guess Who belongs to the group games. Ask children as well as adults to write down on a piece of paper the name of people or reasons to be grateful. Fold them up and mix. Then read each one aloud one by one. People should guess who wrote the note. You may provide discussion and ask to explain the line of thinking.

Gratitude Basket is also an idea for group games. Prepare a jar beforehand. Write down questions about thankfulness on pieces of paper and fold them. Put the notes in the jar. This time kids will answer the questions instead of telling gratitude stories. Ask extra ones to sustain a meaningful conversation. Ideas for questions:

• What does thankfulness mean to you?
• Tell three ways to reveal your thankfulness to a friend, mom, and dad, boss/teacher.
• Describe a talent or skill you have for which you are grateful.
• Name three reasons to be thankful to the person on your left/ right.

Finally

Thankfulness games are the very tools for raising thankful kids. Practice it as often as possible. You’ll see the results pretty soon!