When you’re working to make a new healthy habit or routine stick, it is helpful to create clear reminders that you can see, hear, or touch daily. Regular routines, especially those that nurture mental and physical health, have a multitude of benefits for people of all ages. Reports have shown that family routines enhance social skills and academic success, and adherence to household routines is essential for family resilience during times of crisis. Yes, bedtime, dinner time, and bath time are all vital healthy routines, but does your family have a gratitude routine? If not, keep reading!
This giving season, we are grateful to share a fun routine family activity that will inspire appreciation and connection in your home all year long: a gratitude bulletin board! Creating a gratitude bulletin board at home is an uplifting, engaging, and effective way to foster a positive environment where families can strengthen bonds and grow as individuals. The board also serves as a mindfulness activity, prompting family members to stop, reflect, jot down a note, and pin it up for all to witness. By taking a moment to pause on the daily hustle and bustle and focus on gratitude, family members gain clarity on what really matters, inspire others, and set a trend of kindness in motion.
Here is a step-by-step guide to making a gratitude bulletin board that will encourage your family to recognize and celebrate the parts of life that bring them joy.
Here’s an example of a garden-themed Gratitude Bulletin Board! Tip: Connect the paper/writing utensil container to the board (like this mini bucket) for easy posting access!
Instructions
Step 1: Introduce the board to your family
First, introduce the goal of the board to your family: to create a space for everyone to express gratitude. Gather feedback on the idea and discuss how frequently members should add to it, perhaps adding one gratitude note per week. Remind them that entries can be small, everyday moments or big, special milestones. Regardless of their scope, all written notes, photos, and clippings are welcome, and the more specific the post, the better!
Step 2: Find your board’s home
Identify a location where the board is visible and accessible to everyone. Common spaces with frequent traffic, such as a kitchen, family room, or entryway, are ideal.
Step 3: Decorate the board
As a team, add decorative borders, tape, or designs to the edges to make the board inviting and uniquely yours. Try to incorporate every family member’s favorite color and flair. Family members will be more inclined to add to the board if it reflects their style, includes their interests, and incorporates their perspective. Add a header like “Our Gratitude Board” or “We Are Grateful For …” at the top. Additionally, consider adding seasonal decals throughout different times of the year to switch up themes and keep things current.
Step 4: Create a clear and accessible writing space
Find a spot near the board where you can store writing utensils and pieces of paper/index cards/sticky notes. Depending on the type of board you choose (cork, magnetic, cloth, etc.), you may be able to place them in an envelope or clip on the board itself, but if not, set out a basket, bin, or small box with those materials nearby and accessible to everyone.
Step 5: Introduce the Routine
Based on your family’s engagement preferences from the initial discussion, choose a time each day or week for everyone to add something new to the board. Examples could include a daily morning routine where folks write a note before leaving for school or work or after brushing their teeth at night. If your family prefers this activity to be more flexible, follow a spur-of-the-moment submission style over the span of a month. You can also create a season-specific board that aligns with the colors, holidays, themes, or other fun parts of that time of year and have your family share their notes within that period.
Feeling festive? Create a Gratitude Bulletin Board for each season or holiday and make it an annual tradition!
Step 6: Read, Reflect, and Rework (As Needed)
Plan regular times for your family to gather as a group and read through everyone’s additions to the board. Consider adding a special treat, setting, or follow-up activity to make the review even more special and something to look forward to . Take turns reading and looking at the posts to celebrate the thought, time, and attention everyone took to engage in the activity.
Step 7: Refresh Your Board Regularly
Clear the board on a cadence that works for you and make space for a fresh set of posts. Identify a special spot to store the previous month’s posts, such as a scrapbook, box, or jar. Keep those close for days when you or a family member needs a boost. As mentioned above, consider adding seasonal elements to the board throughout the year to inspire engagement.
The impact of a gratitude bulletin board goes far beyond listing what you are thankful for. It is an intentional way to remind one another each day of the positives in life and build a more joyful, welcoming, and appreciative family atmosphere.
Find more GOTR parent resources and activities here!
