Pollyanna Wisdom

One of my favorite movies when I was a kid, and for years afterwards, is Pollyanna with Hayley Mills. This story seems to stress an appreciation for the basics...

• a home
• a room of one's own and a bed
• good food
• being able to love and be loved
• family or finding family
• friendships
• helping others
• an experience of community
• personal growth
• inquisitiveness
• positive thinking
• and gratitude for what you have

I cannot imagine this movie ever growing old and becoming out of date. These are the basics of any good life and what we all strive for. And... this list is a perfect reference for gratitude journal prompts.

Pollyanna is also a great teaching tool for introducing children to the concept of gratitude and positive thinking. Viewing the film or reading the book as a family, provides a wonderful springboard for conversation.

Links:
Pollyanna, the movie with Hayley Mills
Pollyanna, the book by Eleanor H. Porter

Gratitude Books for Children

While I was creating my newest journal, Parenting The Gratitude Habit, I compiled a list of books for children on the concept of giving thanks and feeling grateful. Spending time with your children by reading books about thankfulness, is one of the many ways of teaching gratitude.

Here are a number of the books I came across:

Gratitude Books:

• I'm Thankful Each Day by P. K. Hallinan (age 2 and up)
• The Thankful Book by Todd Parr (3-6 years)
• Thanks: Learning to appreciate. Gratitude for children. by Luciana Reis (3-10 years)
• Gratitude Soup by Olivia Rosewood (Preschool-Grade 3)
• Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks (The Julie Andrews Collection) - By John Bucchino (Preschool-Grade 4)
• The Secret Stone by Jill Lauffer and Kathleen Roberts
• Biscuit is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (4-8 years)
• An Awesome Book of Thanks! by Dallas Clayton (age 4 and up)
• Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood (K-Grade 3)
• Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? By Dr. Seuss (K-Grade 4)
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Prayer by Chief Jake Swamp (5-11 years) 

Books on Ways to Say Thank You:

• 101 Ways to Say Thank You, Kids and Teens: All-Occasion Thank-You Note Templates, Social Media Etiquette & Gratitude Guide by Kelly Browne
• The Thank You Book for Kids: Hundreds of Creative, Cool, and Clever Ways to Say Thank You! by Ali Lauren Spizman

You can find this list of books in Parenting the Gratitude Habit along with many tips and ideas for making gratitude a family experience.