Parents

How can I teach my child gratitude at home?

Children learn gratitude by seeing it, saying it and doing it, a little every day. Small routines at home make the biggest difference.

Easy ways to start

  1. Three good things at dinner. Everyone shares three good things from their day.
  2. Model it. Say thank you out loud, to your child and in front of them.
  3. Bedtime reflection. Ask, "What was the best part of your day?"
  4. Thank you notes. Help your child write or draw a thank you for a teacher, grandparent or friend.
  5. Kindness together. Do one kind act as a family each week.

At school and at home

If your child's school uses Growing With Gratitude, the GWG Parent Portal shares the same habits your child is learning in class, so you can practise them together at home.

Founder Ash Manuel's book Growing With Gratitude (Wiley) is a practical guide for teachers and parents.

Why schools trust GWG

  • Listed on the Victorian Government Schools Mental Health Menu
  • Listed on the South Australian Department for Education External Wellbeing Programs Directory
  • Included in ACER's national Wellbeing Program Guide
  • Evaluated in a cluster randomised controlled trial in Australian primary schools
  • Australian Government funded: Naturally Brave (2024 to 2026), a disaster resilience program for primary schools in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, delivered with Bushfire Kids Connect and Makers Empire through the National Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Ready Fund, with support from SAFECOM, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the NSW Reconstruction Authority
  • South Australian Government funded: funding to the Adelaide Crows to expand Growing With Gratitude into more South Australian schools, with a focus on regional communities
  • More than 1 million students across 1,205 schools in 80+ countries have been part of a GWG presentation, workshop, online program or event

Share GWG with your school

If your child's school doesn't use Growing With Gratitude yet, let them know. Teachers can start with a free GWG HQ account.

Tell your school about GWG