Belle Green

The Thank You Poem & Gratitude Practices for Kids

Helping kids understand gratitude can feel like an uphill battle, especially when we as parents have successfully given them the things we wish we’d had as children. Yet a healthy gratitude practice started early in life can set the stage for resiliency, proper self-worth, and strong relationships later in life. Let’s start with a thank you poem my son and I created for Thanksgiving, then we’ll dig into helping kids write their own thank you poem, thank you gifts kids can make, ways kids can express gratitude, and five simple ways to form a gratitude practice at home.
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Gratitude and kindness go hand in hand. Help kids learn kindness with I Am Kind: Kindness Coloring Pages. Learn more.

The Thank You Poem

Thank you, love that fills my heart
You make my life a work of art.
My calm and happy attitude
Is how I feel my gratitude!

Thank you God for all the feelings
From mad and sad to joyful squealings
All the different ways I feel
Mean my life is whole and real.

Thank you family for being strong
And showing me that I belong.
If I ever feel out of place,
At home I know there’s always space.

Thank you teacher for showing me
My 1-2-3 and A-B-C
You work hard so I’m prepared
To keep on going – I’m not scared!

Thank you world for giving me
Endless opportunity!
I can learn and choose and grow
Do this or that, go fast or slow.

Thank you, love that fills my heart
You make my life a work of art.
My calm and happy attitude
Is how I feel my gratitude!

Ways Kids Can Say Thank You

In addition to an obvious thank you gift (find some thank you gift ideas in the next section!) kids can use some other expected and unexpected ways to say thank you. Here are some ideas to help them express gratitude to friends, grandparents, a teacher, a babysitter, or anyone else who has helped them out.

Technology makes things way easier than ever to creatively say thank you! Recording a short video of your child expressing their thanks, then texting or emailing it to them. You can even create a video in an editing program like Canva and upload it to a private YouTube channel, then send the link to the recipient!

Sometimes audio is all you need. Record an audio clip in a text message or in Facebook or Instagram messaging apps. This is a good time to add a short song, too! Kids might even want to recite (or put to music) their own thank you poem. See the section below on helping them create their own personalized poetry.
Especially for thanking older adults, an old fashioned thank you note dropped in the mail can speak volumes. It’s also a good way to help kids practice writing (even if it’s just writing their name at the end). If they’ve written their own thank you poetry, they can print out a nice copy on a printer or hand write it in the note. Is a note too plain feeling for you? Not to worry, you can always add more – keep reading for additional ideas!

A cute card to go along with that note is always a plus, and all you need is a sheet of colored paper, some markers or crayons, and a creative kid. Young children can build those fine motor skills and writing or pre-writing skills by practicing printing “Thank You” and drawing pictures. If you’re in a hurry, you can always grab a printable Thank You coloring page (and 11 other handy designs) in this free set of family coloring pages.

Thank You Gifts Kids Can Make

Sometimes words are just not enough, and a thank you gift is definitely the way to go to show your appreciation. In addition to creating enjoyment for both the giver and the receiver, these thank you gifts are things that are easy for kids to make and are inexpensive or even free (thank you!)

A classic thank you gift, handmade picture frames can be given as-is or (preferably) including a picture of the giver and the receiver. Picture frames can be made from cardboard strips, cut and painted (or with decorations glued on). They can be made with colorful craft sticks or even real sticks kids find outdoors. (Especially if you have a little boy, I imagine you’ve got lots and lots of sticks hanging around!) If you’ve got a carpenter friend, maybe they have some thin wood scraps they can give you to create a picture frame. If you want to add a little bling-bling, these DIY mosaic picture frames are super cool!

Hand painted rocks let kids go wild with their artistic flair, and you may already have everything you need: Acrylic paint, paint brushes, and a smooth (or smooth-ish) rock provided by nature! Kids can paint the words “thank you” or just “thanks” if it doesn’t fit, or simply paint whatever comes to mind. Butterflies, ladybugs, hearts, diamonds, animals, made-up patterns, and anything else. If you want a little more longevity out of your painted rocks, you can coat it with this clear glaze finishing coat. Just make sure you’ve got plenty of ventilation and keep the kiddos away from the area when spraying!

Creating works of art with their own hand print is not only fun, it will mean the world to the person your kiddos are saying thank you to. Plus, you probably already have materials on hand that you can use. Colored paper, glue sticks, googly eyes, stickers, etc. are staples around our house, and you may have them already as well. Check out these fun ideas from Simple Everyday Mom or do a quick search on Pinterest and you’ll have loads of ideas to choose from. Don’t forget to have them write their name and “thank you” on the back of their project!

Your kiddos can certainly draw flowers, make them from colored paper and pipe cleaners, or pick real wildflowers to go with that thank you card or coloring page. But for a gift with longevity, consider giving a plant. It’s easy to propagate (grow more plants from cuttings) many houseplants. Pothos and snake plants are popular options that tend to take well to propagation. My personal favorite is African violets because they bloom all year long. I go over what I use for these beautiful and easy gift violets in the “Say it with Flowers” section of my happy anniversary coloring page blog.

Help kids generate appreciation by focusing on kindness and giving to others! Learn 18 ways to be kind in these kindness coloring pages. See more.

Helping Kids Write Their Own Thank You Poems

There’s no thank you poem quite like poetry written personally for the recipient. So along with that note, card, gift, etc., why not help your kids try their hand at writing their very own poems to show their appreciation? Here are a few approaches to try and see which method vibes with your kiddos.

Rhyming Poems

Rhyming poetry is the kind that we all usually think of first when it comes to poems, thank you or otherwise. Rhyming poetry has a musical quality that makes things easy to remember, flows like water, and gives words a light-hearted quality. It’s perfect for poems to show appreciation personally.

Personalized thank you poems don’t have to be long. A simple 4-line verse can be more than enough. Help your kids think of words that rhyme with their target words. Teaching them to clap along with syllables will help them keep the number of syllables in each line similar. This can also accidentally turn this fun exercise into a mini grammar lesson! Here are examples of a few patterns to try out.

Every other line rhymes

Thank you Grandma for the coloring book
I love animals, so it’s just right!
It’s fun to color, or just to look.
I’m filling it with colors, dark and bright!

Rhyming lines together

I love the doll you sent to me
Today we had cookies and tea
Thank you so much, just want you to know
I’m so happy I think I could glow!

1,4,2,3 rhyming pattern

I want to say thank you
For fixing my favorite toy
My heart is filled with joy
My toy says thank you, too!

Remember that at a young age, kids are unlikely to be able to come up with most of their own rhyming words for their poem. You can use an online rhyming dictionary to help, especially with difficult questions like what rhymes with taco! It’s a great and easy way to find words that rhyme and fit in their poem. And when it comes to poetry, it’s an art! Often close enough is better than perfect, and heart-felt appreciation is way better than on-point rhymes. However, if it feels like too much work or it just isn’t happening today (I get it), there’s still hope: poems that don’t have to rhyme.

Non-rhyming Poetry

Especially for younger kids, rhyming poetry can be tough. Thankfully, you’ll be relieved to know that the world has been blessed with non-rhyming free verse poetry. Today, poems don’t need to rhyme, and kids can go wild with this form of poetry. Allow them to get creative, and remember that the purpose of these types of poems is to express gratitude and use words that help others feel what they feel. Here are a few examples to inspire your kids with their own free verse poetry.

I was so excited to get your gift,
My heart was racing!
I opened it, and wow!
Thank you for the squishy stuffed bear!

You took me to the zoo.
I had the best day ever!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
These are the words on my heart.

Thank you for being my teacher.
I have so much fun in your class!
You make everyone feel good.
Laughs. Love. Fun. My teacher.

Haiku Poems

The final form of poetry to consider is a Japanese style of poetry called Haiku. Haiku poems do not rhyme, but they follow a specific pattern of syllables: 5-7-5. The first line has five syllables, the second has seven, and the last five again. This is a fun way to practice a little grammar and give thanks at the same time. Here are a few examples of Haiku poems as some inspiration.

One surprise today.
A gift from you – toy robot!
Please accept my thanks.

One day I was down.
I was sad, but you hugged me.
Appreciation.

Teacher, you make joy.
The world needs you, teacher.
Thank you for your help.

Haiku poems are a unique way to give thanks, and are even more special for teachers or others who know and love poetry. With a little syllable clapping practice, your kids can be writing Haiku poems like pros.

Acrostic Poems

I’ve saved the best for last, because chances are your kids have already created this type of poetry without realizing it. An acrostic poem is often not even recognized as poetry! You simply use the letters in a word to create the poem, such as a person’s name, their title, or the word “thanks.” They may or may not rhyme, they can be phrases or just one word for each letter. These are fun, and super easy for kids to make. Here are a few acrostic poem examples:

Thanks

Teacher
Helper
Artist
Nice
Kind
Super

Sheri (Name Example)

Saying thank you to you
Here with this silly poem
Every time I see you, you
Really make my day!
I love you!

Love

Life is better together
Outdoors or inside
Very cold or very hot
Every day I say “thank you!”

Let kids run wild with these and see what they come up with. Honestly, the less input you have on this and the more that comes directly from their creative brains, the better these poems will be. Give them the construct, then step back and see what they come up with. This is one thank you poem that could become a treasured keepsake!

Changing the world starts with you. Give thanks, love one another, and be kind. Start a lesson on kindness today with Kindness Coloring Pages.

Beyond Saying Thank You: Help Kids Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

A young girl is writing a thank you note.You may already be familiar with all of the benefits of a regular gratitude practice. All the studies seem to be pretty conclusive – gratitude and genuine appreciation can be life changing. Benefits range from greater life satisfaction to better sleep to reduced aggression. But how does a parent even begin to teach gratitude, a complicated emotion that can often be challenging even for adults? Let’s dig in a bit here, because as much as I love a good thank you poem, gratitude goes way deeper than simply saying “thanks.” Let’s show some appreciation for the complexity of gratitude, and how it impacts our kids.

And now for the practical application. Here are five ways you can help make gratitude a deep and permanent part of their life. Get ready to become a gratitude teacher!

Focus on the Feeling of Appreciation

Instead of just reminding kids to say thank you, focus on the feeling. Ask children, “How did that make you feel?” See if they can describe the feelings that the gift, vacation, helpful assistance, or other act of generosity generated. Sometimes identifying the warm, happy feeling helps kids pinpoint the actual physical feeling of gratitude. Or conversely, “How would you feel if you didn’t have this in your life?” Sometimes the thought of being without a treasured relationship, favorite toy, coziest blanket, etc. is enough to switch gears in young minds toward genuine appreciation for that part of their life.

Keep a Gratitude Journal Together

If you’ve looked into gratitude at all, you’ve probably heard about keeping a gratitude journal. This practice involves writing down a few things you’re grateful for each day. Some people recommend three or five, others say ten items on this list is the magic number. For kids, you’ll want to start small. One, two, or three things they can give thanks for each day is plenty to get this ball rolling. We don’t want this exercise to feel like work. Your journal doesn’t need to be anything special – a simple spiral notebook will do. (Maybe have your kiddo do some drawing on the cover to make it truly theirs!) Many studies indicate that doing this right before bedtime is ideal, putting the body into a calm state of appreciation right before sleep. Depending on the child’s age, you may want to do the writing, but sit down together with your special notebook and think together about the good things that happened that day. Simply note each item, and say thank you together.

Expressing Gratitude

Don’t give thanks only in the echo chamber of your head – push that appreciation out! Feeling gratitude puts everyone in a better state of mind and body, but showing that gratitude brings it all to the next level. Whether that’s making a card, giving a gift, or writing your very own thank you poem, putting your gratitude out into the world generates more and more gratitude. When kids are able to pair gratitude with an action like giving, it helps that connection become stronger and more real to them. Personal experience is a great teacher!

Additionally, it’s important for our kids to see us expressing gratitude and showing our appreciation. Make sure you are modeling the behavior you want them to have. Say thank you, and say it often (and mean it when you say it!). Also be sure to say it to them any time they do something worthy of appreciation, even if it’s picking up something you dropped or remembering to flush the toilet! When they know they are appreciated and valued, it helps them get into the feeling of gratitude for others as well.

Gratitude Jar

A bit like the gratitude journal, a gratitude jar is a way to re-cultivate feelings of gratitude again after the event has passed. Create a habit of finding one thing to be grateful for each day, and do it at the same time each day. During breakfast or the evening meal is a good time to do it. Write down what you are thankful for on a slip of paper, then put it in a jar. Maybe it’s a kind word from a teacher, a gift from grandma, a special trip to the movie theater or ice cream parlor, getting a broken water heater fixed (thank goodness for hot water!), or any other good thing that happened during the day.

At a scheduled future time – perhaps the end of the month – open the jar and read the notes. Remember how those things felt, and let the feelings of gratitude become more and more a part of who you are as a family. Any time a child says they can’t think of anything they feel appreciation for, pull out the jar and have them read (or read to them) a few blessings from the past. Keep the notes for a whole year in a large jar or plastic bin and kids will quickly see how many things they have to give thanks for in a dramatic visual display!

Gratitude Games

I don’t know about your family, but in my house anything that can be gamified gets all the attention. Kids love games, and taking a light-hearted approach to it makes it feel more fun compared to how serious adults often treat gratitude and appreciation. Taking turns saying things you’re grateful for while rolling dice, grabbing pick-up sticks, catching bean bags or balloons, or any number of other tasks may feel gimmicky, but it gets kids thinking about gratitude, and thinking faster. You can find a collection of gratitude games here or feel free to make up your own!

A Life of Gratitude Starts Early

It may feel intimidating to become a gratitude teacher, but as a parent or caregiver, you already are. Every time we remind our kids to say thank you, we plant seeds of appreciation in their hearts and minds. But it’s also key to remember that “thank you” should never be hollow words, even if we are writing a thank you poem! By cultivating a home culture of gratitude, giving gifts to show our appreciation, making kindness a way of life, and creating a gratitude practice, we are doing our kids a world of service. So write poems, give and receive love freely, and always, always, always give genuine thanks and appreciation. And thank YOU for reading and supporting my work here!

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