100 Ways Kids Can Practice Gratitude & Compassion

When our kids are grateful for what they have instead of being discontent and asking for more, they are more joyful and also able to practice compassion more easily. But it takes practice and a bit of effort to focus on their blessings. There are many reasons why kids should practice gratitude and there are also ways for them to practice gratitude as well as compassion. I have compiled a list of 100 total ways kids can practice gratitude and compassion so they can be a blessing to others and experience more joy in their lives.

Here are 50 ways kids can practice gratitude:

1. Send a thank you note for a gift received
2. Make a phone call to say thank you
3. Draw a picture expressing thanks
4. Send a video of thanks
5. Put together a Thankfulness Garland like the one from Young Earthy Mama
6. Write in a preprinted gratitude journal about anything and everything you are thankful for (you can get your free download by signing up here)
7. Create your own gratitude journal or notebook
8. Make a Family Gratitude Jar like the one from Get Away Today
9. Write a thank you letter to God
10. Make a Family Gratitude Tree such as the one from The Mama Birds
11. Give someone a hug to say thanks
12. Simply say “thank you” in the moment
13. Give someone a simply made version of the Thankful Fortune Cookie from Doodlebug Design (these are really cute)
14. Send a note thanking someone for being a good friend
15. Play The Gratitude Game like the one from Teach Beside Me
16. Leave sticky notes around the house thanking family members
17. Send a thank you note for something nice someone did for you
18. Make handmade Gratitude Boxes – a darling idea from Meri Cherry
19. Think of one thing you are thankful for when you are really disappointed about something and tell someone else what it is
20. Make a coupon book with fun rewards as a way of saying thanks (ex. 1 Free Hug, 30 Minutes of Play Time Together, etc.)
21. Write in a gratitude journal using writing prompts such as those from Text My Journal
22. Make a list of all the things you appreciate about someone and give it to them
23. Put together a gratitude scrapbook
24. Build a Thank You Bank like the one from Make With Happy
25. Pick some flowers and give it to someone as a way of saying thank you
26. Use window markers to write a big thank you to someone in your family
27. Make a Thankful Turkey Book Craft like the one from B-Inspired Mama
28. Write a special thank you song and sing it to someone you appreciate
29. Create a comic strip with characters who say “thank you” and give it as your way of saying thanks
30. Make a Gratitude Stones like the ones from Fireflies and Mudpies
31. Say a prayer of thanksgiving
32. Read books about gratitude
33. Create your own Blessings Jar
34. Make a Gratitude Wreath like the one from The Classroom Creative
35. Create a simple gratitude board on a small white board or chalkboard listing the things you are thankful for
36. As a family, write out a list of things you are thankful for (I have a free printable for subscribers)
37. Color and complete a Gratitude worksheet like this one from Whimsy Workshop Teaching
38. Watch a movie that encourages gratitude and talk about it when it is over. Such as, how did the characters express gratitude? What did they do? How did they act?
39. Make a Turkey Handprint Keepsake Canvas like the one from School Time Snippets
40. Before bed, say three things you are thankful for
41. Go on a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt – this is such a great idea from Let’s Get Together
42. Make a gratitude banner and hang it up in the house so everyone can be reminded to practice gratitude
43. Make a Thanksgiving Turkey headband with things you are thankful for written on the feathers
44. Write a list of all the things you are thankful for from A to Z
45. Tell a friend that you are thankful for something about them when they least expect it
46. Make your own Gratitude Pumpkin like the one from The Joys of Boys
47. At the dinner table, have everyone go around and say one thing they are thankful for
48. Make a simple Thanksgiving Turkey craft like the one from Playdough to Plato
49. Bake cookies for someone to show your appreciation
50. Write on a printable calendar one thing you are thankful for every day of the year

And here are 50 ways kids can practice compassion:

1. Smile at someone who looks like they need a little cheer.
2. Write a special note and give it to someone who is sad
3. Help make a meal for someone who is hurting and take it to them
4. Share a special toy with a friend
5. Give a hug to a friend who needs it
6. Do something silly to make a sad friend laugh
7. Invite someone who looks lonely on the playground to play with you
8. Put together as many shoeboxes as you can for Operation Christmas Child (it’s never too early to start!).
9. Talk about the children who might receive the Operation Christmas Child boxes and pray for them.
10. Save up your chore money or birthday money to sponsor your first child or an additional child through Compassion International.
11. Write a special note or make a special drawing and send it to encourage a child you are sponsoring.
12. Collect coats or other items and donate them through a local organization to children in need.
13. Ask someone how they are doing and listen while they give the answer
14. Participate in a charity walk.
15. Say a cheerful hello to someone who looks sad or unhappy.
16. Make cards for children in the hospital.
17. Make cards for men and women who are in a nursing home.
18. Make bracelets for kids in need.
19. Make bracelets for kids in the hospital.
20. Tell someone who needs encouragement that they did a good job!
21. Make cookies for someone who needs cheering up
22. Buy or pick a small bouquet of flowers and give it to a friend
23. Make a special drawing for someone who is sad or hurt
24. Complete a craft activity with someone in a nursing home
25. Go around the neighborhood on a “scavenger hunt” to collect food for a local food pantry
26. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
27. Fluent readers: volunteer to read with kids who are just learning
28. Volunteer to help at an animal shelter
29. Older kids: offer to help a single mom by babysitting and don’t charge her
30. Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor
31. Pull weeds for a neighbor who is unable to do their own yard work
32. Older kids: put together a campaign to raise money for someone in need
33. Help someone who is discouraged succeed at something
34. Tell a sad friend or family member that you love them
35. Help an injured friend by carrying their bag or books
36. Create a compassion jar and each time someone in the family is “caught” doing something kind, money goes in the jar – whatever amount is decided. This can be money that was set aside ahead of time. Once the jar is full, the money is used to help someone in need. The kids should be involved in deciding how the money is used. Could be for a specific person or an organization.
37. Simply have a conversation and talk about what compassion is and why it matters
38. Work through a literature unit on compassion
39. Speak encouraging words when a friend is afraid
40. Make breakfast or a snack for a sister, brother, mom or dad who is sick
41. Help your tired mom by cleaning up the table after dinner or another chore that would be helpful
42. Give away something you no longer need to someone who could use it
43. Hold the door open for someone who is on crutches, in a wheelchair, or just anyone!
44. Read books that include characters who show compassion and talk about them afterwards
45. Donate your hair to Locks of Love or another charitable organization
46. Donate books to an organization that helps kids read
47. Set up a lemonade stand and give all the money to a local charity
48. Give up birthday gifts for a year and ask everyone to donate money to a charity to celebrate your big day
49. Help your brother or sister clean up their room when they are sick
50. Pray daily for a person in need

Head on over to iHomeschool Network for more “100 Things” posts!