Gratitude traditions can make a huge impact on children! Thanksgiving offers a built-in reminder to pause and say thanks, but gratitude deserves more than one day of attention each year. When families take time to practice appreciation together, children can learn that thankfulness is an attitude that can shape how they see the world — it’s not just a word.
Psychologists have found that children who regularly express gratitude tend to show more kindness, optimism, and resilience. For parents, it’s one of the most meaningful habits to pass on — especially in a season that can easily get swept up in busy schedules and material expectations.
Gratitude traditions don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. The most lasting ones are simple, joyful, and easy to repeat.
Family Traditions That Make Gratitude Fun
1. The Gratitude Jar
Set a jar in the center of your table at home and fill it with small notes throughout the month of November. Each family member can write one thing they’re thankful for each day. Then, read the notes aloud on Thanksgiving Day together — or keep the jar going all year long!
2. The Thankful Tree
Cut out leaves from colorful paper, and have your children write (or draw) what they’re thankful for. Hang the leaves on a small branch placed in a vase or taped to a wall. It becomes a living reminder of appreciation as the month goes on!
3. Family Gratitude Circle
At dinner, take turns sharing one moment from the day that made you feel grateful. Try to keep it short and lighthearted so it stays part of your routine!
4. Thank-You Notes in Different Languages
Write short thank-you notes to teachers, friends, or neighbors — and invite your au pair to help translate “thank you” into their native language. Kids love learning new words, and it’s a fun way to connect across cultures.
5. A Gratitude Walk
Take a short walk together as a family and point out things you appreciate — the weather, the colors of fall, the people you pass. Your children will learn that gratitude isn’t just for big occasions, but for everyday.
Global-Inspired Gratitude Ideas
Sharing How the World Gives Thanks
Around the world, people express gratitude in fascinating ways. In Japan, for example, the holiday of Kinrō Kansha no Hi celebrates community and hard work. In Germany, Erntedankfest honors the harvest season with songs and parades. In India, families celebrate Pongal by cooking rice together and giving thanks for abundance over three to four days.
Sharing these customs with your children can help them understand that gratitude is universal. Ask your au pair how their family gives thanks at home — what foods they eat, what traditions they love. You might find new rituals to weave into your own Thanksgiving!
A Cultural Gratitude Dinner
Pick one evening before Thanksgiving to make a meal from your au pair’s home country. Talk about the meaning behind the dishes and how gratitude shows up in different places. This kind of shared experience can spark wonderful conversations about appreciation, generosity, and what it means to belong.
Keeping the Spirit Alive Year-Round
The best part about gratitude traditions is that they can last long after the turkey leftovers are gone! Try setting aside one night each week for a family gratitude circle, or keep the jar and tree up through the new year. Gratitude is like any habit — it grows stronger the more you practice.
By sharing these moments with your children, you can helping them build emotional awareness and empathy. And when your family includes someone from another culture, like an au pair, those lessons expand even further. Your children can see that gratitude may look a little different everywhere, but feels the same everywhere.
Hosting an au pair for intercultural, live-in childcare can open the door to new traditions, languages, and perspectives that make gratitude come alive in your home.
