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Gratitude Journal for Kids

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This Gratitude Journal for Kids is a perfect way to help kids remember to be thankful.

Three smiling children sit together, with printables gratitude journal for kids on the side.

This printable journal would be great for the kids to do during the months before and during the holiday season. If you have teens, they might like these journal ideas for teens.

We could all use a reminder and refresher about all the blessings in our lives from time to time. This kids’ gratitude journal will help them share all the things that they’re grateful for in a fun and creative way.

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What are the Benefits of Journaling for Kids?

Did you know that journaling is a great way for kids to learn to open up and communicate their thoughts and feelings?

Journaling doesn’t have to be just “written words”, either. It can be drawing, coloring, creating, animating, and more! Journaling for kids can be such a simple process as proven by this gratitude printable.

When kids can have their own space where they can create and write out their thoughts and feelings, here are just a few of the benefits kids get:

Communication Skills

Journaling increases a child’s reading and writing skills, which helps develop their communication skills. They’ll learn to pay more attention to details, which will increase what they communicate.

This gratitude journal has writing prompts, questions, and fun illustrations, which allows children to reflect on their values, hopes, and beliefs. Being able to record their thoughts this way, is sometimes an easier way for a child to communicate, rather than talking about it.

Creativity

Journaling can help children expand their creativity through writing and art.

Kids can get creative in their writing by journaling about their thoughts or daily activities in a short story form. Writing about themselves as characters in a story can encourage them to write more and make it more descriptive.

Allowing kids to add stickers and drawings to their journal will make them excited to add more details and show their creativity. Plus, this is helpful to kids who aren’t as confident in their writing skills as they are in their artistic skills โ€” allowing them to journal in the way they’re most comfortable will result in more content and grow their confidence.

Stress Reduction

When children are allowed to journal, it reduces their stress and improves their mood.

Being able to write or draw can make children feel safe to express their thoughts and emotions, rather than having to face a grownup, sibling, or another child and say what they’re thinking at the moment to someone who might feel intimidating to them. 

This gratitude journal gives kids a chance to look for the good things that happen to them every day, including being able to look at something negative that happened to them and look for the positive in it. That will definitely reduce their stress and improve their mood.

Five children smiling outdoors with printable Gratitude Journal for Kids on the side.

Creative Ways to Use This Child’s Gratitude Journal

There are many ways to get creative with the gratitude journal for your class or at home. Here are some ideas:

Work Together as a Family

There is something in our daily lives that we can all be grateful for. Why not sit down and do a gratitude journal together as a family. It’s an easy way to slow down the day and make memories for a lifetime.

Color and Display

Part of this printable journal has pages that are just for coloring. Once the kids color them, display them in your classroom or on the refrigerator at home as a reminder to be grateful and to show that you’re proud of their work and their creative process.

Use This as a way to do Something Nice for Others

Showing gratitude is a great way to be thankful as well. Spreading kindness and happiness is always a fantastic idea.

Once the kids complete their journaling for the day, have them pick one thing they want to do that is nice for someone else. If you have morning sharing time in your classroom, every day that you’re working on this project, you can have the kids share what they did for someone else.

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables

Printer: This one is a great budget printer. If youโ€™re willing to spend just a little more though, this is a better option. And if youโ€™re looking for an all-in-one home office machine, this one does it all, has high reviews and includes 2 years of ink.

Ink cartridges: Speaking of ink, this is where the cost of using printables can really add up! To save BIG on ink, buy it from CompAndSave.com. It’s substantially cheaper than anywhere else and they carry ink for all major printer brands and models.

Printer paper or cardstock: If youโ€™re printing for one-time, quick use, print on regular printer paper. If you need the printout to hold up to being handled often, choose cardstock.

Binder or Folder: If you’re using page protectors for your printables, binders are such an easy way to keep them together and organized. I love this colorful set. If you prefer to stick with standard white though, this set is highly rated and very affordable. And if you need larger binders, this set is terrific. If you go with folders, I like these.

Storage boxes: I like to keep a collection of coloring pages and activity sheets for kids in these plastic storage boxes that I pull out whenever I need to keep kids occupied.

Hole punch: If you don’t use page protectors but want to use binders to organize your printables, a hole puncher will be your best friend. This is the one you want if you’ll be punching holes in several pages at a time and want to do so easily. And this bargain option is ideal if you don’t mind limiting your hole punching to 2-3 pages at a time.

Markers and Pens: The right writing instrument makes a big difference! Depending on what I’m writing, I have different preferences. Here are my favorites for each type:

  • Gel pens – My favorites for journaling
  • Fine point permanent markers – These are my favorite for coloring
  • Markers – These are my favorites for kids since there are no caps to lose and the kids can easily open and close them on their own

Adhesive and glue: To assemble or display your printable, you have a few options. You can use glue sticks, double-sided tape, or adhesive dots.

Clipboard: I love this clipboard for on-the-go with the kids. It has built in storage for both printables and markers or pencils.

 

How to Get the Children’s Gratitude Journal

The grateful journal for kids is a PDF file that you can download and print over and over.

Three children smiling with arms raised beside sheets of coloring pages from a Gratitude Journal for Kids.

Just fill in the form below to access your copy of the Thankful Journal. 

Printable FAQs

How do I access the printable?

Fill in the form above. After you submit the form, you’ll receive an email from “Wondermom Wannabe” with a direct link to the printable. If you do not see the email in your inbox within a few minutes, check your spam folder.

Where can I find my file after I download it?

The most likely place will be in your computer’s Downloads folder. You can also select “Downloads” in your browser menu to see a list of your downloads, then simply select “Show in folder” below the file name to see where it is stored on your computer.

How do I print a PDF?

You’ll need a program that supports PDFS, likeย Adobe Acrobatย (which is free). Open the program, click File > Print. Select your printer and set the number of copies you want to print. Double check your print preview, then click print.

Additional Thanksgiving Fun

Keep the Thanksgiving fun going strong with some of these other fun printables and activities.

Gratitude journal for kids with prompts and coloring pages featuring clouds, sun, and raindrops.

6 thoughts on “Gratitude Journal for Kids”

    • There’s a place where you can enter your email and click the “Yes, please” blue button near the bottom of the post under the heading, “How to Get the Childrenโ€™s Gratitude Journal” and right above the “Printable FAQs.”

      Reply
    • Fill in the form above. After you submit the form, youโ€™ll receive an email from โ€œWondermom Wannabeโ€ with a direct link to the printable library where youโ€™ll find the link to the printable above as well as all of my other free printables. If you do not see the email in your inbox within a few minutes, check your spam folder. If itโ€™s in your spam folder, make sure you mark it not spam and move it to your inbox before clicking on the confirmation link.

      Reply
    • Yes, it’s definitely an important life lesson. Thanks for commenting.

      Reply

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