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Giving Real Thanks—And Boosting Literacy at the Same Time!

Anne Hauth • November 13, 2024

Children around the country will be asked the same question several times this month: What are you thankful for? While some children will take the time to pause and give a thoughtful answer, many will just answer the question quickly (“I’m thankful for my family and friends”) without taking the time to consider the meaning of what they’re saying. In fact, many adults will do the same thing.


Encourage your kids to think about gratitude in a different way this year. True gratitude is not expressed by simply saying what we’re thankful for. True gratitude comes with action. It is the feeling of being thankful, plus the action of reaching out and finding a way to thank the source of that feeling. This a good practice to foster in your kids, and there are ways to make it a literacy-boosting activity. Win, win!


If you’d like to give this a try with your kids, help your kids write down what they’re thankful for. Then, have them take action in the coming weeks with a related reading or writing activity. For example, if a child says he is thankful for his parents, have him write them a note expressing this gratitude. If a child says she is thankful for the earth, point her toward some reading material that celebrates the earth. Have her channel her thanks into a deeper understanding of some of the issues our planet faces.


Here are a few more examples:


“I’m thankful for food.” = Who prepared that food for you? Write that person a note to tell them why you’re thankful for it.


“I’m thankful for my pet.” = Pets love to hear their owners’ voices. Pick a favorite book and read it aloud to your pet as a way of letting him know you appreciate him.


“I’m thankful for recess.” = Who do you play with at recess? Write that person a note. OR: Why does it feel good to play outside? Read an outdoor magazine or nature book and make a list of outdoor activities you enjoy.



“I’m thankful for my computer.” = Technology helps us learn amazing things in exciting new ways. Use your favorite reading tool or reading game, such as One Minute Reader, and then write down how the computer made learning more enjoyable for you.


Encouraging your kids to not just say thank you, but to also act on that feeling, will help them think more deeply about real gratitude.


We at One Minute Reader are thankful for YOU for all that you do to help your kids. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.


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By Anne Hauth November 12, 2024
We've arrived at the season of giving thanks--but shouldn't that be every season? Research shows that grateful people are happier and healthier. Here are 12 easy ways to cultivate gratitude with your kids all year long. Click on the links to download free printables! Keep a stack of these Gratitude Cards in a central area of your house. Anytime your child has someone to thank, encourage them to fill out a card! Play Gratitude BINGO. Download these printable BINGO Cards and instructions for playing . The BINGO Cards are an interactive PDF, so you can type on them before printing if you wish. Keep a family Gratitude Journal. At the end of each day, ask your kids what they were thankful for that day. Write their thoughts in the journal. Encourage your kids to think of things specific to the day, and ask them to try not to repeat things from previous days. This practice will help them notice that there are new things to be thankful for each day. Download this Gratitude Scavenger Hunt and have kids complete this activity with friends, classmates, or neighbors. Design your own scavenger hunt using this interactive PDF with different items, so you can play as much as you’d like. Decorate your home with a Gratitude Tree. Create the tree by drawing branches on a poster board or by standing real twigs in a pot or vase. Have kids write their gratitudes on the Gratitude Leaf Cards and add them to the tree. Hopefully you'll be adding branches all year long as your kids think of more and more reasons to give thanks. Take a Gratitude Walk. Walk outdoors with your kids, and have them carry a notebook and pen. Ask them to be quiet during the walk. Have them notice and write down what feels good and what they appreciate about being outdoors. After the walk, ask them to elaborate, either verbally or in writing, on what they wrote down. The books on this Gratitude Book List are all about giving thanks. Whether you're looking for picture books to read aloud to younger kids or chapter books that inspire reflection in your older kids, this list has dozens of fantastic titles. Sometimes the simplest questions can lead to the most profound answers. Use these Gratitude Conversation Starters to prompt thoughtful discussions in your family. Do a daily Gratitude Meditation. Have kids close their eyes and think about the word “thankful” for a quiet minute each day. When they open their eyes, have them write down, tell you, or simply reflect for a moment on the things that came to mind. Have kids write what they’re thankful for on little slips of paper. Have them put the papers in a jar or add them to a bulletin board. Be a role model. Offer your own reflections whenever you feel thankful for something. Take pictures of the things your kids are grateful for. Print the pictures to make a Gratitude Collage to display in your home.  P.S. We are thankful for YOU! Thank you for all you do to help your kids become better readers. Please connect with us if One Minute Reader can support you in any way.
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