In November, it’s common on social media to show our gratitude each day of the month with hashtags such as #30daysofthanks or #thankful. I love this practice and think it’s a great idea to get our children involved, not on social media per se, but in harnessing the attitude of gratitude that will last beyond November. With the idea of building positive habits in mind, I’ve put together 30 days of journal prompts and acts of kindness to try with your kids.
Day One:
Journal Prompt – Which holiday is your favorite and why are you grateful for this holiday?
Act of Kindness – Think of a gift you’ve received recently. Write a thank you note to the giver and either hand-deliver or mail it.
Day Two:
Journal Prompt – Write about something good that happened to you today.
Act of Kindness – Hold the door open for someone.
Day Three:
Journal Prompt – Name 3 people in your life you are grateful for and why.
Act of Kindness – Take a gift to your teacher. Consider an apple or flowers.
Day Four:
Journal Prompt – What talent do you have that you are grateful for?
Act of Kindness – Do a chore without being asked.
Day Five:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite season? Why are you grateful for it?
Act of Kindness – Call your grandparent, a favorite aunt or uncle, or another family member you haven’t seen in a while.
Day Six:
Journal Prompt – Find something in your house that smells really good. What is it and why are you grateful for the sense of smell?
Act of Kindness – Pick up litter on your street or at a local park.
Day Seven:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite possession? Who gave it to you? Tell them you’re grateful for it.
Act of Kindness – Leave a small treat in the mailbox for the mailman.
Day Eight:
Journal Prompt – What is one thing you love about yourself?
Act of Kindness – Write a thank you note to a coach, teacher, or someone who has been a light reflector for you.
Day Nine:
Journal Prompt – Fill in the blank: I am thankful I learned how to _______.
Act of Kindness – Compliment a friend today. Here are 50 encouraging phrases to help.
Day Ten:
Journal Prompt – What do you like about your town? Why are you grateful to live there?
Act of Kindness – Visit the animal shelter. Take the dogs for a walk, pet the cats, or donate food to the shelter.
Gratitude activity suggestions for days eleven through twenty on page 2...
Day Eleven:
Day Twenty-One:
Day Eleven:
Journal Prompt – What do you love about your parent(s)? Tell them how thankful you are to have them.
Act of Kindness – Tape bags of microwaveable popcorn to the Redbox machine.
Day Twelve:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite sound? Why are you grateful for the sense of hearing?
Act of Kindness – Make a homemade gift for a friend or sibling.
Day Thirteen:
Journal Prompt – Who is your favorite person at school? Why are you thankful for this person?
Act of Kindness – Make a thank you sign for the sanitation workers and leave it somewhere they will see it.
Day Fourteen:
Journal Prompt – Name 5 things you see in your home that you are grateful for today.
Act of Kindness – Gather old toys and donate them to charity.
Day Fifteen:
Journal Prompt – Write down at least 3 service people you are thankful for. Firemen? Police officers? Chefs? Cashiers?
Act of Kindness – Donate books you’ve already read to the library.
Day Sixteen:
Journal Prompt – What technology are you thankful to have in your home?
Act of Kindness – Sit with someone at lunch who looks lonely or invite someone to play at recess.
Day Seventeen:
Journal Prompt – What was something nice that you witnessed today?
Act of Kindness – Return someone’s grocery cart at the store.
Day Eighteen:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite thing to do outside? What outside gift are you thankful for? Your bike? Your scooter? Your pool?
Act of Kindness – Tape a couple of dollars inside an envelope to a vending machine with a note saying “This drink is on me. Enjoy!”
Day Nineteen:
Journal Prompt – Name 3 reasons you’re grateful to have clean and running water in your home. How does this make life easier?
Act of Kindness – Give your school bus driver a treat.
Day Twenty:
Journal Prompt – Look around your house for something that feels soft and cuddly. What is it? Why are you grateful for the sense of touch?
Act of Kindness – Donate clothes you’ve outgrown to charity.
Gratitude activities for the rest of November on page 3...
Day Twenty-One:
Journal Prompt – What is one thing you love about your sibling? (Or pet or best friend?)
Act of Kindness – Help a sibling or parent with a chore.
Day Twenty-Two:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite book? What do you love about it?
Act of Kindness – Leave a kind note in your library book when you return it.
Day Twenty-Three:
Journal Prompt – Name one thing you want to get this Christmas and one thing you want to give.
Act of Kindness – Plan to buy for an angel from the angel tree at Christmas.
Day Twenty-Four:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving and why are you thankful for the sense of taste?
Act of Kindness – Donate one of your favorite food items to a local food bank.
Day Twenty-Five:
Journal Prompt – Who is someone that makes you laugh or smile a lot? Why are you thankful for this person?
Act of Kindness – Tell someone a joke to make them laugh.
Day Twenty-Six:
Journal Prompt – Name something in your room that you are grateful for. Where did it come from?
Act of Kindness – Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog.
Day Twenty-Seven:
Journal Prompt – What is your favorite family tradition or activity? Why are you thankful for this tradition?
Act of Kindness – Feed the birds.
Day Twenty-Eight:
Journal Prompt – What are you grateful for about the country you live in?
Act of Kindness – Send a letter of gratitude to troops overseas. Visit amillionthanks.org.
Day Twenty-Nine:
Journal Prompt – Fill in the blank: I am thankful I can _________.
Act of Kindness – Bake cookies and take them to the fire station.
Day Thirty:
Journal Prompt – Fill in the blank: I am grateful to be me because ______.
Act of Kindness – Smile at everyone you see today. It’s contagious!