Gratitude Journal Printable for Kids and Adults

Here’s a gratitude journal printable worksheet that makes it easy to draw or write about what you are most thankful for.

Help kids notice the good things in their lives with this “I Am Grateful” gratitude journal printable. The simple shape prompts make it fun and easy for both children and adults to use. Fill them in with words, pictures, or doodles to express appreciation for the people, places, and everyday moments they value most.

Even preschoolers can use this printable gratitude worksheet to express their gratitude. Young children can draw their answers or ask an adult to write for them. Adults also enjoy drawing what they are most grateful for. I sure do! Use this printable activity to build thankfulness at home, as a classroom gratitude project, or as a simple Thanksgiving tradition everyone can enjoy together.

The photo below shows one of the many gratitude worksheets my daughter has created, alongside one of mine. She used pictures, and I used words—two different ways to make this printable your own.

Get the “I Am Grateful” Printable:

The “I Am Grateful” gratitude journal printable gives children and adults a place to record what they appreciate through words, pictures, or doodles.

A quick note for transparency: This worksheet is available for purchase in the Rhythms of Play Learning Center, and I also offer it as a welcome gift to newsletter subscribers.

If you’ve already purchased the worksheet, you’ll receive the Gratitude Journal Prompts printable as your welcome gift instead, unless you’ve already received it. It’s my way of saying thank you for being here and making the world a more grateful place!

Prefer not to join the newsletter? Purchase the “I Am Grateful” Printable in the Rhythms of Play Learning Center.

Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude with Kids

Gratitude begins with noticing what we appreciate—from the people we love to small moments that brighten our day. Invite children to name someone who helped them, something they enjoyed, or a moment that made them smile. These simple conversations give children a chance to express thankfulness in their own words.

The “I Am Grateful” gratitude journal printable gives children and adults a place to capture those reflections through words, pictures, or doodles. For a Thanksgiving activity, try our Thankful Turkey coloring page or placemats to invite conversation around the dinner table.

Keeping a gratitude journal or exploring other gratitude activities and crafts offers a simple way to practice the habit of noticing everyday blessings. However, being thankful doesn’t mean ignoring difficult feelings; there’s room to appreciate the good while acknowledging what feels hard.

Reading children’s books about gratitude together can also spark meaningful conversations. Pause to talk about what the characters appreciate, then invite children to share their own ideas. Over time, these small moments of reflection can help us recognize more of the goodness already present in our lives and increase feelings of thankfulness.

For me, practicing gratitude helps me notice the abundance already present in everyday life. I like to use this worksheet as a reminder to appreciate small moments and the people who make them special. For more ways to explore gratitude together, try these Thanksgiving gratitude activities and crafts to make thankfulness part of your family or classroom traditions this holiday season.

Supplies you’ll need for this Gratitude Activity:

• Printable gratitude coloring page
• Crayons, colored pencils for children or adults, pens, or markers

How to Use the Gratitude Worksheet

Follow the steps below to build thankfulness and gratitude at home or in the classroom:

1. Access and print the worksheet:

If you’re a newsletter subscriber, follow the gift-access instructions in your welcome email. You can also purchase the gratitude journal printable in the Learning Center. Print your worksheet, or create your own version by writing “I am grateful for” in the middle of a blank journal page and drawing arrows leading to surrounding shapes where you can write or draw your responses.

2. Take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for:

Pause and think about what you appreciate today. It might be a favorite person, a familiar comfort, or a small moment you enjoyed. Give children a little quiet time to come up with their own ideas before they begin writing or drawing.

3. Fill in the shapes with words or pictures:

Write, draw, or doodle your responses, then add color with crayons, colored pencils, or markers. You can also fill the shapes with stickers, photographs, and magazine clippings that represent what you appreciate.

Younger children can draw their ideas, as my daughter demonstrates in the photo below, or ask an adult to write their words beside each picture. To add a little writing practice, try the optional literacy activity for kids explained below the photograph.

Use this Printable as a Literacy Activity:

• Invite children to draw something they are grateful for.
• Encourage beginning writers to label each picture with a word. Offer help with letters and spelling as needed.
• Children who are ready can write a short sentence explaining what they appreciate on the back of the worksheet or a separate page.

4. Share your gratitude with others if you’d like:

Invite everyone to talk about one thing they included. Sharing is optional, and there’s no need to fill every shape or come up with a big answer—small moments count, too. For Thanksgiving, invite family members to share something from their worksheets around the dinner table.

5. Display or save your finished page:

Hang it somewhere you’ll see it, or keep your worksheets together to revisit later. Try the activity again weekly, monthly, or whenever you’d like a quiet moment to reflect.

Reusable worksheet tip: Slip a printed worksheet into a dry-erase pocket and use compatible erasable markers to fill it out again. My family prefers wet-erase markers over dry-erase markers because they don’t smudge as much and are just as easy to remove with a damp cloth or paper towel. If you prefer to keep your pages, collect them in a folder or journal to revisit your thankful memories.

Gratitude Prompts to Help You Get Started:

If you’re looking for inspiration, choose a prompt below. Take your time with this activity. You can write a word, draw a picture, or tell a little story about what comes to mind.

Someone you appreciate

Think of someone who makes your life a little brighter. What do you enjoy about spending time with them? You might draw a friend, family member, teacher, or neighbor and add a detail about what makes them special to you.

A moment you want to remember

Picture a moment you’d like to enjoy again. Maybe you baked together, played a game, or laughed at something silly. What part would you like to capture on your page?

Something you love about nature

Think about a place outside where you like to spend time. You might appreciate a climbing tree, a puddle to splash in, colorful leaves, or the warmth of sunshine.

An everyday comfort

Notice something that helps you feel cozy or cared for. A favorite meal, a soft blanket, a bedtime story, a familiar song, or an object you love can all go on your worksheet. If your children or students choose a favorite toy, ask what makes it special. Their answer might lead to a story about playing with a friend or receiving a thoughtful gift.

Something you’re glad you can do

Consider something you’ve learned or enjoy doing. Riding a bike, making someone laugh, growing a plant, or creating something with your hands are all possibilities.

For more inspiration, explore these gratitude journal prompts. Choose whichever ones feel meaningful, and let children come up with their own answers.

Use the printable gratitude coloring page and the gratitude journal tips below to increase feelings of gratitude and thankfulness.

Tips for Younger Children

Keep the activity relaxed and follow your child’s lead. They might draw a favorite person, pet, toy, or place. Give them time to choose what feels meaningful to them, even if their answer surprises you.

Once they’ve drawn something, invite them to tell you about it. Ask, “Would you like me to write your words beside your picture?” Use their own wording to capture what they want to share.

Beginning writers can add a label or short sentence, with help as needed. Pictures alone are welcome, too—there’s no need to turn every response into writing practice.

Let your child decide when they’re finished. One drawing is enough, and they can return to the other shapes another day. You can also fill out your own worksheet alongside them and enjoy a quiet, creative moment together.

Tips for adults

Set aside a few quiet minutes to make the worksheet your own. Use words, sketches, or color to capture what you appreciate—no artistic experience needed.

Try adding a specific detail to each entry. Instead of writing only a person’s name, note a kindness they showed you or a moment you enjoyed together. Everyday comforts and small accomplishments belong on the page, too.

Let this be a creative pause in your day. You don’t need to fill every shape, make it look polished, or finish feeling a certain way. Simply notice what comes to mind and give yourself room to reflect.

Why try a gratitude coloring page?

A gratitude coloring page gives children and adults a creative way to notice and express what matters to them. Some thoughts come more easily as pictures; others take shape through words. Both belong here.

This activity makes room for every feeling. Children can appreciate something good while also feeling sad, frustrated, or disappointed. Let gratitude invite you to notice, without pressure to feel a certain way.

Looking at your completed pages together can reveal what each person values and spark conversations you might not otherwise have.

Use these gratitude activities and the ones listed below for other simple ways to increase thankfulness at home or in the classroom. It includes several more fun activity ideas and crafts that make it easy to teach kids how to be grateful.

More Thankful and Gratitude Activities:

• Gratitude Journal Prompts with Free Printable
• Thankful Turkey Printable
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities and Crafts
• How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Leaves
• Clay Gratitude Leaves
• Children’s Books about Gratitude That Inspire Thankfulness
• Thankful Tree with Clay Gratitude Leaves
• Best Thankful Trees for Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Traditions