Gratitude Journal for Kids
When I created this Gratitude Journal for Kids, I wanted something that could help younger children reflect on their day in a fun, engaging way. My kids are at different ages now, but when my daughter was in early elementary, I loved finding ways to guide her through expressing her thoughts and feelings. Gratitude journaling helped her recognize small joys throughout the day, like the smile from a friend or her favorite snack at lunch.
If you’ve seen my list of fun Thanksgiving printables for kids, you know how much I enjoy creating activities that bring meaning to learning. This gratitude printable fits perfectly alongside those seasonal printables, giving kids a chance to reflect while enjoying creative writing and drawing.
I’ll show you why practicing gratitude is such an important skill for kids, what they’ll learn from this printable, and how to use it to create meaningful moments together.
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Why Should Kids Learn About Gratitude?
Helping children understand gratitude builds empathy, emotional awareness, and a sense of contentment. It’s a small habit that grows into a lifelong mindset. Here are a few reasons it matters:
- Encourages mindfulness: Kids start to notice small details about their day that bring them joy.
- Strengthens relationships: When they write about friends, family, or kind acts, they learn to value those connections.
- Improves mood and outlook: Focusing on the positive parts of their day can help them manage stress and stay cheerful.
- Boosts writing confidence: Sharing personal thoughts gives kids a safe space to express themselves creatively.
Gratitude Books I Recommend
I love pairing this printable with storybooks that highlight thankfulness and appreciation. Reading about gratitude gives children relatable examples and thoughtful discussion points.
Teach Your Dragon Gratitude: A Story About Being Grateful (My Dragon Books)It’s Not Fair: A Kids Book About Gratitude (The Emotionally Empowered Kids)The Grumbles: A Story about GratitudeThe Gratitude Jar – A children’s book about creating habits of thankfulness and a positive mindset.: Appreciating and being thankful for the little things in life.The Monster Who Wanted It All: A Book About Gratitude (The WorryWoos)The Things I’m Grateful For: Short Stories About Being Thankful and Grateful for Kids (Gratitude Series Book 1)
Skills Kids Can Learn from This Thanksgiving Printable
Using the gratitude worksheets encourages more than reflection. It also develops practical learning skills while making writing fun.
- Emotional awareness: Kids learn to label and understand their feelings through short prompts and drawings.
- Creative writing: The journal pages encourage storytelling by describing happy moments or drawing things they appreciate.
- Observation skills: Writing daily reflections teaches them to notice details about people, places, and events that make their day special.
My Recommended Fall Printable Packs
If your kids enjoy themed activities, you’ll want to check out my fall printables. They’re a great way to keep learning fun during the season and tie in beautifully with gratitude lessons.
Supplies Needed for the Gratitude Printable
You don’t need much to get started, just a few simple items that make journaling easy and enjoyable:
- Printer (I have this one)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Crayons or markers
- Glue stick (optional, for adding drawings or photos)
- Folder or binder to keep the pages together
I have the HP printer 8710, but it’s no longer available. It’s been running well for years now. Consider another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.
Gratitude Activity Kits I Recommend
Pairing this printable with gratitude-themed crafts or journaling kits can make the experience more hands-on. These kits usually include creative prompts, stickers, or writing tools that encourage kids to reflect daily.
4E’s Novelty Thankful Tree Craft Kit 12-Pack, Foam, Self-Adhesive – 11” Tree of Thanks, Thanksgiving Tree Craft, Ideal for Fall Crafts for Kids 4-8, Perfect Gratitude Tree Kit with Leaves to Write OnMy First Gratitude Journal: Fun and Fast Ways for Kids to Give Daily ThanksSunny Present Thankful Me – Gratitude Cards for Kids – Mindful Play and Conversation for Children to Celebrate Life, Inspire Appreciation, Build Resilience80UncleKimby Fall Thanksgiving Rock Painting Kit: Arts and Crafts for Kids – Include DIY Stones, Water Paint, Tattoos, Gifts Toys Party Favors Classroom Activities for Girls Boys Ages 8-12PLUS PLUS 3D Puzzle Building Block Set, 70 Mini Interlocking Pieces, Fun Holiday Activities for Kids – Turkey Mini Maker TubeFall Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss Games for Kids, Fall Festival Party Games Outdoor Indoor Turkey Dart Board for Kids Carnival Games Toys Thanksgiving Party Favors for Boys Girls Family Yard Games
What’s Included in the Gratitude Notebooking Pages?
This printable set includes six pages designed to help kids express thankfulness in writing and drawing. Each page offers a unique way for them to reflect on what they appreciate.
What I Am Grateful For
A daily reflection page where kids can write or draw about what made them smile, how they feel, and what they’re thankful for. It’s a perfect way to end the day with positive thoughts.
My Gratitude Board
A creative space where kids can write or sketch the people, pets, books, movies, and foods that make them happy. It helps them visualize their blessings in a fun layout.
My Gratitude Jar
This page includes a jar filled with hearts where children can jot down things they love or appreciate. It’s a visual reminder that gratitude fills our hearts.
Lined Writing Pages
There are multiple writing pages with cute seasonal designs, perfect for journal entries, thank-you notes, or gratitude stories. My daughter used to write about her favorite memories here each week.
How to Extend the Activity
You can extend gratitude journaling in creative ways to keep the practice fresh and meaningful.
- Read gratitude-themed books: Find stories that illustrate thankfulness and discuss the lessons afterward.
- Create printable bookmarks: Use printable gratitude bookmarks so your kids can carry kind reminders with them while reading.
- Start a family gratitude jar: Everyone adds notes about things they’re thankful for, then read them together at the end of the month.
- Make a photo gratitude collage: Print out photos of happy moments and label them with short captions about why they matter.
More Gratitude Activities for Kids to Try
Gratitude can be practiced in many creative ways throughout the year. Explore more printable activities and journaling ideas that help children reflect on kindness and appreciation.
- Thanksgiving Gratitude Worksheets
- Gratitude Scavenger Hunt Printable
- Gratitude Word Search Printable
- Using Kindness Elves to Teach Children Kindness and Gratitude by Darcy and Brian
- Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem Templates by Homeschool of 1
Reflecting on what we’re thankful for has been such a grounding experience for my family. When my kids were younger, I saw how writing about their day helped them notice small, meaningful moments. I hope these gratitude pages help bring the same sense of peace and happiness to your home.