Great Gratitude Quotes for Kids!

Do you have an attitude of gratitude?  Gratitude is about focusing on the good and being thankful for the things we have.

Studies have shown that living a grateful life can increase happiness. It’s good for our mind and body!

When we make a habit of gratitude, we have a more positive attitude.  This can have a big effect on our everyday lives, like how we do in school and our relationships with our family and friends.  Being grateful can also block bad feelings and boost our mood.

An amazing thing is that being grateful is a choice that you can make everyday.  So, how can you practice gratitude? Start by reflecting on both the small and big things you are fortunate to have. Things you may often take for granted, like having clean water, food, a bed, and clothes. Take a look around and make note of how lucky you are to have an awesome family, friends, a school you love, even a pet who adores you. Reflecting on how grateful you are for the simple things in life will not only make you more appreciative of the world around you, but may also have a positive effect on others!

This collection of quotes can also serve as inspiration for a thankful heart. Follow their advice and you will become the best version of yourself: a person who is gracious, courageous, confident, and will no doubt makes a positive impact in the world.

• “Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.” – Robert Braathe
• “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” – Gerald Good
• “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” – Frank A. Clark
• “The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” – Charles Schwab
• “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
• “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
• “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
• “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – President John F. Kennedy
• “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” – Brian Tracy
• “Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice.”- Joseph B. Wirthlin
• “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
• “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
• “It’s wonderful to be grateful. To have that gratitude well out from deep within you and pour out in waves. Once you truly experience this, you will never want to give it up.” – Srikumar Rao
• “The simple act of saying ‘thank you’ is a demonstration of gratitude in response to an experience that was meaningful to a customer or citizen.” – Simon Mainwaring
• “Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.” – Louie Schwartzberg
• “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder
• “Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.” – Marcus Aurelius
• “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” – A.A. Milne in Winnie-the-Pooh
• “The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” – Henri J.M. Nouwen
• “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust
• “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton
• “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Cicero
• “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” – Randy Pausch
• “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” – Aesop
• “Gratitude also opens your eyes to the limitless potential of the universe, while dissatisfaction closes your eyes to it.” – Stephen Richards
• “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha
• “Gratitude always comes into play; research shows that people are happier if they are grateful for the positive things in their lives, rather than worrying about what might be missing.” – Dan Buettner

Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Or are you jealous of what another person has? Do you want a lot of things that you don’t have?  Maybe you should change the way you are thinking? Maybe you are just not grateful enough for all that you DO have.  Watch this brief video and think hard about your attitude. You may just become a happier and more grateful person.

Additional Resources:

• Check out more IMK stories about inspirational boys and men
• Take a look at our full collection of inspiring quotes for kids and students
• Find out why gratitude matters!
• How grateful are you? Take this quiz to find out!

Topics for Discussion:

• What are some things in your life you are most grateful for?
• Is there anything in your life that you are not grateful for, but perhaps should be?
• What at your top 3 quotes from the list above? Why?
• Were you ever told to “be grateful”? How did that make you feel? What happened?
• What do you believe being thankful requires? What could you do to be more grateful?
• What are your special gifts, talents and likes? Which are you most grateful for?

Take Action:

• At bedtime each night, think of the 3 best things that good happened to you on that day.  When you awaken, think of 2 things that you are grateful for.  Do this for 30 days and you will make it a habit for life!  Then ask your parent(s) and siblings to try it!
• Write down 5 of your biggest strengths and unique qualities. Keep this list by your bed and look at it every week to remind yourself what makes you you!
• Create a gratitude photo book of all the people, places and things you are grateful for.
• Make sure to say thank you, write thank you notes or create a thank you video for people who are kind and generous to you!

Teacher and Parent Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
• Check out our growing list of Lesson Plans that can be used alongside our quotes and articles
• Discover gratitude activities for the classroom.
• Here are some tips on instilling gratitude in kids.