A few years ago when visiting family for Thanksgiving, we decided to put up a Gratitude Tree. Without much fanfare, the kids and their cousins passed around autumn leaves and markers and asked everyone to share what they were grateful for.
Mindful Activities to Grow Your Gratitude Practice
Gratitude means appreciating what we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have. It may sound simple, but cultivating gratitude takes intention and practice. Here are a few of our favorites ways you and your family can grow your gratitude practice together.
Notice the Good Jar Celebrates Family Kindness
When we notice the good, we’re actively choosing a positive mindset. This is a simple way to grow gratitude — but it takes practice. Start a Notice the Good Jar to regularly notice and celebrate acts of kindness in your family.
Moving Meditation: Root to Rise
This moving meditation is to help children visualize the practice of rooting in order to rise. We root to ground, to find strength. We rise as we become heartful, kind to ourselves, others and the world around us.
Toss the Gratitude Ball to Express Thanks
This activity is a variation on the popular ice-breaker game, Toss the Beach Ball, and is wonderful for children of any age range as well as adults. The idea is to inspire young children to think of the small things in their lives they’re grateful for.
A Mindful Scavenger Hunt Reinforces Kindness, Gratitude and Peace
Ready for a little fun? In honor of National Scavenger Hunt Day, add a dose of mindfulness to a classic scavenger hunt with your little one.Â
Grateful For Our Knuckles Game Lends Perspective
I realized the other day that in my 40 years of living on this earth, I don’t think I have ever stopped to thank my knuckles — yup, my knuckles.
Life is Good Game Builds Habit of Gratitude
By acknowledging our challenges, then recognizing what is good in our lives, we can develop a habit of gratitude alongside difficult circumstances and feelings.
“One Line a Day” of Gratitude to Kick Off the New Year
Last year a friend told me about a unique journal called "One Line a Day," which spans a 5-year period. Each page in the journal is for a particular month and day (e.g., January 1)...
A Grateful Twist to a Pumpkin Craft
Today I had the opportunity to help with my 1st grader's Halloween party at school. We did a few simple yoga and movement games, but most of our...
