Make Thankfulness a Daily Habit

One of my biggest prayers as a mom is that my kids grow up knowing how to turn to God daily—whether in gratitude or through prayer. 🙏 Over the years, we’ve made journaling a part of our daily homeschool routine, and I love how it gives them a space to reflect on their faith each day.

I love discovering Christian journaling tools that inspire my kids to dive in and actually use them! Over the years, we’ve used several different types—some I’ve used alongside my daughter and others I’ve used with my two younger boys. In this post, I’ll share a few of our favorite gratitude journals for kids and prayer journal resources for kids.

Simple Resources to Help Build Faith & Gratitude in Kids

My First Daily Prayer & Gratitude Journal

This My First Daily Prayer & Gratitude Journal from thechristianjournalcompany makes adding in journaling and gratitude each day so easy! It’s designed for kids ages 6-13 and includes:

• Bible affirmations
• Space for daily prayer requests & reflections
• A simple format to build faith-filled habits
• Encourages practicing gratitude
• Allows for kids to set goals

It’s beautifully designed with a hardback cover and a ribbon divider (a little fancy touch kids love 😉), and I love that The Christian Journal Company offers prayer & gratitude journals for adults too!

SPIRAL BIBLE™: A Creative Bible Study Resource

While dedicated gratitude journals are a great tool, some kids enjoy journaling directly alongside Scripture. The SPIRAL BIBLE™ is a unique, spiral-bound Bible designed for note-taking, journaling, and creative engagement while studying God’s Word. Its lay-flat design makes it perfect for highlighting, writing prayers, and even coloring. With options for kids and adults, it’s a great addition to any homeschool, Bible study, or personal devotional time. Available in KJV, ASV, and BBE for children, it encourages deeper engagement and reflection in a hands-on way. Plus, you can download free Bible reading plans to stay on track. It’s a versatile, keepsake-worthy resource for every stage of faith!

While the SPIRAL BIBLE™ isn’t a dedicated gratitude journal, it provides ample space for journaling, note-taking, and creative reflection right alongside Scripture. We used it in our homeschool in recent years, and I loved how it helped my kids engage deeply with God’s Word. If you’re looking for a Bible that encourages both study and creativity, check out my review here.

Encourage Gratitude with the Give Thanks Journal for Children

Teaching children to express gratitude daily is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. The Give Thanks Journal for Children is a simple yet meaningful way to help young writers build the habit of thankfulness. With kid-friendly prompts it’s perfect for homeschool journaling, seasonal reflection, or holiday gratitude activities. However you choose to use it, this beginner-friendly gratitude journal makes it easy for kids to recognize and appreciate their blessings.

Start fostering a heart of gratitude in your homeschool today! Grab the Give Thanks Journal here. 

Find the Perfect Gratitude Journal for Your Child

When my daughter was in her freshman and sophomore year, we each chose a simple daily gratitude journal that we thought was pretty and spent just a few minutes every morning writing in it. This small habit created a wonderful routine of thankfulness that stuck with us both.

If you’re looking for a simple yet impactful way to help your child build a habit of gratitude, there are so many beautiful options to choose from. 

Check out these gratitude journals for kids and find one that inspires your child to reflect on their daily blessings!

How to Use Gratitude Journals for Kids in Your Homeschool Routine

We started incorporating a combination of Bible journaling and gratitude journaling when my daughter was about 14, and I always wished we had begun sooner. So when my boys were younger, I introduced it much earlier—I wanted gratitude to become a natural habit for them. But no matter when you start, anytime is the right time to build the habit of journaling!

As a writer, I also love the idea of daily writing practice, even if it’s just jotting down thoughts, setting intentions, writing a prayer, or speaking to God on paper. It’s a simple but powerful way to strengthen both faith and writing skills.

In our homeschool, we take just a few minutes each day to journal together. I join in too because I’ve found that modeling habits is far more effective than just telling my kids to do something they never see me doing. It has become a meaningful part of our morning routine—right alongside The Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

I also love that these journals become sweet keepsakes I save for my kids whenever we finish one. Looking back on their prayers and gratitude lists over the years is such a treasure! That’s why I believe in choosing quality journals and resources—not just for durability, but also because having something beautiful and inviting makes daily journaling more enjoyable.

If morning time doesn’t work for your homeschool, here are a few other ways and times to fit gratitude journaling into your day:

• At bedtime – A peaceful way to reflect on the day before saying prayers.
• Before meals – Encourage gratitude before eating by journaling one thing you’re thankful for.
• During Bible study – Pair journaling time with scripture reading to connect gratitude with faith.
• With nature walks – Write about things in God’s creation that bring joy.
• Through art journaling – Let kids draw or doodle their gratitude lists instead of just writing.
• Using prompts – Have a “question of the day” like What made you smile today? or Where did you see God’s blessings?

No matter how you incorporate gratitude journaling, the key is making it consistent and meaningful for your family!

Deepen Your Own Prayer Life as a Christian Mom

While I love providing my kids with tools to engage with God’s Word, I know that as moms, our own prayer life is just as important. If you’re looking for a structured yet flexible way to grow in prayer, I’ve created A Prayer Journal for Christian Moms Who Want to Intentionally Grow Their Prayer Life—a beautifully crafted, printable prayer journal designed to help you pray with purpose.

With guided prompts, gratitude sections, a chronological Bible reading plan, and space for personal reflection, this journal will help you stay intentional in your faith journey while balancing the busyness of motherhood.

Ready to grow in prayer? Grab your copy today!

Does your family journal prayers and gratitude in your homeschool? Let me know how below!