I Am Grateful For
This visual gratitude worksheet presents dozens of illustrated items representing different life categories - from family and friends to hobbies and simple pleasures. Children color in everything they love or enjoy, creating a personalized map of their blessings. The variety of images helps children recognize gratitude opportunities they might not have considered, from basic needs like shelter and food to special interests and activities. This approach builds appreciation across all life domains, while the coloring activity provides a meditative, calming experience that enhances the positive emotions associated with gratitude practice.
Therapeutic Questons to guide session:
"Which item surprised you most that you wanted to color?"
"Tell me about the very first thing you colored—why did you pick that one?"
"Is there something you're grateful for that isn't shown here?"
"Who do you share these good things with?"
"Which colored item made you smile the biggest while coloring it?"
"If you could only keep three things you colored, which would they be?"
"How do you feel now compared to when we started coloring?"
Positive Psychology Foundation: This builds on evidence-based positive psychology interventions. Regular gratitude practice has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in children while increasing life satisfaction and positive affect.
Concrete Over Abstract: Rather than asking "What are you grateful for?" (which can feel overwhelming or produce superficial responses), the visual options make gratitude concrete and specific. Children engage more authentically when they can point to specific items rather than generate abstract responses.
Values Clarification: The items children choose to color reveal what they value and prioritize—relationships, creativity, sports, nature, comfort, achievement. This information helps therapists understand the child's identity and what might be leveraged in treatment.
Assessment of Deprivation: What children DON'T color can be equally revealing. A child who skips all family-related images might indicate family conflict; avoiding all friend images might suggest social difficulties. Consistent patterns reveal potential treatment targets.
