Encouraging Gratitude and Communication: Helping Your Child Express Thankfulness 🍂🦃

November is a season of gratitude and togetherness, with Thanksgiving gatherings, family meals, and opportunities to reflect on what we appreciate. But for children with selective mutism, speech delays, or social anxiety, expressing gratitude—whether verbally or nonverbally—can feel challenging and like a target is on a child to perform.

Teaching children ways to communicate thankfulness not only supports their language development but also helps them build positive social connections.

Why Gratitude Matters for Speech & Social Development

Practicing gratitude encourages children to:
✔ Expand their vocabulary (learning words like “thankful,” “grateful,” “appreciate”).
✔ Improve social skills by expressing kindness and recognition.
✔ Build confidence in communication through simple, positive interactions.
✔ Develop a sense of connection with family and friends.

The best part? Gratitude can be expressed in many ways—not just through words!

5 Ways to Help Your Child Express Gratitude

1. Practice Saying or Signing “Thank You” 🙏

Even a simple “thank you” can feel big for a child with speech challenges. 

Try:
✔ Modeling gratitude by saying “thank you” often.
✔ Teaching alternative ways to express thanks—like sending a thank-you card.
✔ Encouraging nonverbal expressions like a smile, a high five, a thumbs-up, or a hug.

Letting your child choose their comfort level makes gratitude feel natural!

2. Create a “Thankful Tree” at Home 🍁

A hands-on craft makes gratitude fun and visual!
🌳 Cut out paper leaves and write things your child is thankful for.
🖍️ If they struggle with words, they can draw pictures instead!
📌 Hang the leaves on a “tree” (real branches or a make your own with painters tape on the wall).

This interactive activity (downloadable) helps children understand and express thankfulness in a creative way. 

3. Encourage Small Acts of Kindness ❤️

Gratitude isn’t just about words—it’s also about actions! Help your child express appreciation by:
💛 Helping set the table for Thanksgiving dinner.
💛 Drawing a picture for a teacher or friend.
💛 Giving a high-five or hug to show appreciation.

Nonverbal actions can be just as powerful as spoken words!

4. Use Books & Stories to Teach Gratitude 📖

Reading together is a great way to introduce thankfulness in a low-pressure way. Try books like:
📚 Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
📚 The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
📚 Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino

After reading, ask simple, open-ended questions like:
🗣️ “What is something you feel thankful for today?”
🎨 “Can you draw something you love about your family?”

Stories help reinforce language and emotional expression!

5. Model Gratitude in Daily Life 🌟

Children learn best by watching and imitating! Show gratitude by:
✔ Thanking them for small things (“Thank you for helping me clean up!” - Labeled Praise).
✔ Expressing appreciation for family members in front of them. Use your values to praise!
✔ Creating a daily gratitude ritual (sharing one thing you’re thankful for at dinner or bedtime).

The more they see gratitude modeled in everyday moments, the more natural it becomes!

Celebrating Thankfulness in Every Form 🦃

Gratitude isn’t about saying the perfect words—it’s about acknowledging kindness and connection in any form. Whether through words, drawings, gestures, effort or actions, your child can learn to express thankfulness in a way that feels comfortable for them.

This November, let’s celebrate all the small ways our children communicate and grow! 💛