Raising Thankful Kids: 5 Everyday Ways to Teach Gratitude at Home

Raising Thankful Kids: 5 Everyday Ways to Teach Gratitude at Home

At Big Dreams Club, we’re all about creating small, meaningful moments with your little ones—and gratitude is one of the most powerful habits you can build together. While it’s easy to talk about thankfulness during holidays and special occasions, it’s even more important to help our tamariki (children) recognise everyday goodness all year round.

So, how can we raise kids who truly understand gratitude—not just as a polite “thank you,” but as a lifelong mindset?

1. Start by Defining Gratitude as a Family

Gratitude can feel like a big, fuzzy concept—especially for little minds still figuring out the world. Gratitude is about recognising goodness outside of ourselves. That could mean big things, like family, love, or health… or small joys, like a warm hug, a green light, or a surprise ice cream cone.

Try sitting down as a whānau (family) and asking:

“What does goodness look like in our life?”
Once you know what matters most to your family, it becomes easier to notice and celebrate it together.

2. Talk About How Gratitude Feels

Gratitude isn’t just something we say—it’s something we feel. One of the most effective ways to teach it is to model it out loud.

You can start from day one, even before your baby says their first word. Try:

“Thanks for that cuddle—it made me feel really happy and calm.”
Or when a neighbour drops off some homegrown tomatoes:
“I feel so thankful she’s our neighbour. It’s such a lovely gift to receive.”

When we name and express our feelings, we show our children that gratitude is more than a habit—it’s an emotion we can share and savour.

3. Use “Notice, Think, Feel, Do” Questions

Kids aren’t always quick to explain their feelings, but asking guided questions can help. Dr. Abdullah recommends using four simple prompts:

  • NOTICE: What do you see or experience that’s good?

  • THINK: Why do you think that happened?

  • FEEL: How did it make you feel?

  • DO: What could you do to show your appreciation?

For example:

“I noticed Nana gave you a new book. What do you think about that? How does it make you feel? Do you want to do something to say thank you?”

This kind of gentle conversation helps kids connect the dots between receiving kindness and giving it back.

4. Make Gratitude Visual

Some children connect more through actions than words—and that’s perfectly okay! Here are two simple gratitude rituals you can try at home:

  • Gratitude Journal: A daily drawing or writing habit where your child reflects on a moment of goodness.

  • Photo Collection: Let them take pictures of people, places, or things that make them feel happy or loved—and revisit them often.

These tiny traditions help build a strong foundation of thankfulness in a way that feels fun and age-appropriate.

5. Build It Into Daily Life

Like brushing teeth or bedtime stories, gratitude grows best when it becomes a daily habit. A simple dinnertime ritual could be:

“What are three good things that happened today?”
Everyone gets a turn, and it can lead to the sweetest conversations—while helping you glimpse what matters most to your child.

And remember: this is a practice. It’s okay if it doesn’t click right away. Gratitude is a skill your child will develop over time—and your encouragement is what helps it blossom.

Back to blog