Teaching what gratitude means to kids can be explained with a simple gratitude flowers activity. Especially good for children ages three and up, the exercise can be a holiday craft or for anytime of the year. Flowers are made of brightly colored construction paper, and kids can help cut them out if old enough to handle scissors. Petals are attached to the round center with glue or tape, so it couldn’t be easier. Kids write what they are grateful for on the petals.
What are Gratitude Flowers?
Gratitude flowers help a child put into words the people, places, and things they feel thankful or grateful for in their life. Whether it’s Mom and Dad, the family pet, or a nice, warm place to live, making gratitude flowers can help children feel good about themselves and those around them.
Whenever anyone is having a challenging day, a look at the gratitude flowers on display should provide a positive pick-me-up.
Crafting Gratitude Flowers with Kids
To make gratitude flowers, gather the following materials, most of which are probably on hand:
- Colored construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape or glue stick
- Pens or crayons
- Templates for flower center and petals or draw by hand
Start by cutting out a round center for the flower. Kids can write their own name, family name, or label it “What I’m Grateful For.”
Cut out the petals, five for each center. Write something on each petal that describes a kindness, someone you love, or a person, activity, or thing you are thankful for. Younger children may need help with printing.
Tape or glue the petals to the center. Then attach each grateful flower to the wall or refrigerator.
Variations on the Gratitude Flower Activity
Here are more ideas to expand on gratitude flowers:
- Each person’s grateful flower can also be glued onto a sheet of construction paper. Instead of flowers, you can make a gratitude tree. Create a tree trunk and leaves out of construction paper and attach the “leaves” to the tree. Write a thank you leaf every day for the month of November, for example.
- Alternatively, you can bring in small tree branches from outside and hold them upright in a jar or vase filled with marbles or stones. Attach the tree leaves by punching a hole in the leaf and threading a loop through the hole. Make a whole garden out of construction paper to hold the gratitude flowers, i.e., a fence, house, trees, sun, and affix to a wall.
This gratitude flowers activity is a fun way to help children understand the meaning of being grateful and appreciating the little things in life.