Growing and Harvesting Gratitude





Growing and Harvesting Gratitude
As as an educator, time after time I go into classrooms and ask kids what gratitude is. Very, very seldom do a get a kid who raises their hand. So, I change the wording, “What does being thankful mean?” One or two hands may go up, but not many. I am not just talking 4-year-olds, here. 5th graders have problems with this question, too. And the answer I usually get is just the kid definition.
We all want grateful kids - kids who are appreciative of their experiences, others and what they have. And with good reason! Gratitude is a key player in helping to maintain a healthy brain function. In this digital social-emotional learning activity kit, we're going to talk all about gratitude - how to grow it, how to harvest it and how to make sure it's simply just the way you live.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITY KIT: Growing and Harvesting Gratitude
Here’s what you’ll get:
Brain-splain: The bite-size overview of what gratitude looks like in the brain and what brain research has to say about the amazing benefits of gratitude. When you’re done reading this page, you’ll know where you’ll be headed this month and why.
Inhale+Exhale: In this breathing activity, you’ll use visualization to bring a gratitude boost to your brains.
Brain Boost: In this activity we called Gratitude Goals, we’ll bring old-school flick footballs back to life, boosting gratitude and family connection!
Journals: Have children of multiple ages in your home? Feel like you could use some help with focusing and training your brain too? We’ve got you covered. You’ll get three sets of weekly printable journals (little kid, big kid and teen/adult) to help your family grow and bond.
Let’s Talk About It: Tired of asking what your kids feel and think and getting the cold, shrugged shoulder? A set of 12 conversation starters based around thankfulness will help you get deeper than how was your day and help open the family communication.
Three-a-Day Gratitude Game: This is our go-to method of starting a gratitude practice. In fact, it’s still one we use daily in our home. You’re going to love watching your kids boost their brains with gratitude.
Videos: Two short, fun videos - one for you and one for the kids to help explain what’s happening in the brain and how they have the power to make choices that benefit their mental and physical well-being.