Teaching Gratitude to Kids Through Yoga, Games, and Mindfulness

Nov 28 / France Hutchison
Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful practices to help children develop emotional resilience, mental clarity, and a positive outlook on life. For kids aged 5 to 8, gratitude is more than just saying "thank you"—it’s about noticing and appreciating the good things around them, no matter how small. Through engaging gratitude games and mindful activities, we can teach kids to embrace gratitude, not just during yoga sessions but throughout their daily lives.

🌟 What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is noticing what makes us happy and saying "thank you" for it. For kids, this could mean appreciating their favorite toy, a sunny day, or a hug from a friend. Teaching gratitude to children helps them focus on the positives, regulate their emotions, and build stronger relationships.

💡 The Impact of Gratitude on Kids

Gratitude is a transformative practice that can solve common emotional and mental challenges while promoting well-being. Here’s how:

Improves Mental Health:
  • Encourages happiness and satisfaction with life.
  • Reduces stress and anxiety by shifting focus to the positive.
  • Cultivates optimism, even in challenging moments.

Supports Emotional Regulation:
  • Helps children calm down during moments of frustration or anger.
  • Promotes mindfulness, teaching kids to pause and reflect before reacting.
  • Replaces negative emotions with appreciation and joy.

Builds Emotional Awareness:
  • Encourages kids to recognize and label their emotions.
  • Teaches them to express appreciation and kindness toward others.
  • Strengthens empathy and improves social relationships.

Solves Common Challenges:
  • Tantrums or Outbursts: Shifts focus from frustration to appreciation.
  • Low Self-Esteem: Builds confidence by recognizing personal strengths and blessings.
  • Social Conflicts: Promotes empathy, helping kids resolve disputes peacefully.
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🎮 Gratitude Games to Play in Yoga or During the Day

🧡 1. Heart Shape of Gratitude
Impact: Promotes emotional awareness and calmness.

  • Ask the children to place their hands on their hearts and think of something that makes them happy.
  • Let them draw an imaginary heart in the air and share what they’re grateful for, like “I’m thankful for my puppy.”
  • Pair this with a calming yoga pose, like Child’s Pose, to anchor the emotion of gratitude in their bodies.

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🎨 2. Gratitude Jar

Impact: Builds mindfulness and reduces anxiety.
Materials: A jar, small pieces of paper, crayons or markers.

  • Each child writes or draws something they are thankful for and places it in the jar.
  • After adding their note, invite them to strike a fun yoga pose, like Tree Pose.
  • At the end of the week, read the notes together and reflect on the joys they’ve shared.


🌈 3. Gratitude Rainbow

Impact: Combines movement and positivity, encouraging focus and mindfulness.

  • Guide the children to create a rainbow with their arms, moving side to side.
  • As they move, ask them to name something they’re thankful for in each color of the rainbow.
    • Example: “Red for apples, orange for the sunshine…”
  • Pair this with gentle yoga poses, like Warrior Pose or Triangle Pose.


🤲 4. Gratitude Pass

Impact: Fosters group connection and improves social relationships.

  • Sit in a circle and pass a small object like a ball or stuffed toy.
  • Before passing, each child says something they’re thankful for.
  • Add yoga poses to make it active—for example, every child can choose a pose after their turn.


🚶 5. Gratitude Walk

Impact: Encourages mindful awareness and appreciation for surroundings.

  • Take a slow, mindful walk, indoors or outdoors.
  • Every few steps, stop and name something they notice and feel thankful for, like “I’m thankful for the blue sky” or “I’m thankful for the warm breeze.”
  • Incorporate poses like Tree Pose or Warrior Pose along the way.

💡 The Impact of Gratitude on Kids

✨ Categories of Gratitude Kids Can Explore
Teaching kids to think about different categories of gratitude makes the practice more dynamic and fun. Use these during games or mindful reflections:

👨‍👩‍👧 People:
Examples: “I’m thankful for my family,” “I appreciate my teacher,” or “I’m grateful for my best friend.”

🌳 Nature:
Examples: “I’m grateful for the sunshine,” “I love the trees outside,” or “I’m thankful for the flowers in the garden.”

🧸 Things:
Examples: “I’m happy for my stuffed animal,” “I appreciate my crayons,” or “I’m thankful for my favorite book.”

😊 Feelings:
Examples: “I feel happy when I play with my friends,” “I’m grateful for feeling safe,” or “I love it when I laugh with my family.”

🏡 Experiences:
Examples: “I’m thankful for my birthday party,” “I loved going to the park,” or “I’m happy we had pancakes for breakfast.”

Encourage kids to explore these categories during yoga poses, mindful breathing, or gratitude journaling.

🌟 Positive Words That Show Gratitude

Introduce kids to simple, positive words that express gratitude and kindness. Teach them to use these words during games or in daily interactions:

  • Thankful
  • Happy
  • Kind
  • Appreciate
  • Grateful

Example sentences:

  • “I am thankful for my toys.”
  • “I feel happy when I play with my friends.”
  • “I appreciate my teacher for helping me learn.”

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🌟 The Ripple Effect of Gratitude

Teaching gratitude to kids doesn’t just solve immediate problems—it creates long-term benefits for their mental health, emotional regulation, and social skills.

By integrating gratitude games into yoga and daily routines, and leveraging the resources in the PedaYoga Training Collection, you equip children with the tools they need to handle challenges, build resilience, and thrive in their environments.


Start today with a simple activity, and watch how quickly kids embrace the habit of gratitude, bringing more joy and mindfulness to their lives! 🌟

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