Gratitude Toolkit

There’s a lot to be gained from practicing gratitude. When humans feel grateful, the region of the brain known as the medial prefrontal cortex (part of what we like to refer to as the Upstairs Brain) lights up, an area that is associated with understanding other people’s perspectives, empathy, and feelings of relief. This is also an area of the brain that is connected to the systems in the brain and body that regulate emotion and support stress relief.

Research has shown that gratitude plays a major role in our well-being and success. And it’s a ripple effect: when we feel good physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially, we are more likely to share these positive feelings with the children we work with. By practicing gratitude with our children, everyone is more likely to be happy, optimistic, and feel more satisfied with school, family, community, and friends.

Our 14-page gratitude toolkit includes the science of gratitude, 5 gratitude practices for children and teens, 3 gratitude practices for adults, 3 children’s book recommendations, 2 journal activities, and 1 visualization.