How do I make gratitude games that combine laughter and sincere noticing? 

Parenting Perspective 

While children often respond enthusiastically to games, the concept of gratitude can feel abstract or dull when it is taught only through serious lectures. By transforming it into a playful, light-hearted activity, parents can make the practice of gratitude both enjoyable and deeply meaningful. The goal is to skillfully weave moments of silliness with genuine reflection, so that children find themselves laughing while simultaneously learning to notice the countless blessings around them. 

Play ‘Funny Thanks’ Rounds 

A simple game to play at the dinner table is ‘Funny Thanks’. Go around the table and have each person name one serious blessing and one silly blessing. For example, a child might say, “I am thankful for my family… and for the funny way our cat chases its tail.” This simple game keeps the tone joyful and models an important lesson: that gratitude can and should encompass both the significant and the seemingly small details of life. 

Try Gratitude Charades or Skits 

In this active game, have family members take turns acting out something they are thankful for, without using any words, while everyone else tries to guess what it is. Laughter is a natural result of the exaggerated acting, yet the core message of the activity remains firmly focused on blessings. 

Use Daily ‘Gratitude Triggers’ 

Choose a specific moment in the day, such as just after a prayer or during the evening meal, to serve as a daily gratitude trigger. At this time, everyone names one thing they noticed and appreciated that day. Encourage creativity in their answers, which could range from appreciating ‘the smell of rain’ to being thankful that ‘my friend shared their pencil’. Over time, this simple practice builds a powerful habit of actively scanning for positives in everyday life. 

By making gratitude playful, children learn to associate it with joy rather than obligation. This approach not only strengthens family bonds but also nurtures a positive mindset of thankfulness that they will carry with them into adulthood. 

Spiritual Insight 

Gratitude, or shukr, is a central pillar of Islam, but it is not intended to be a dry or mechanical duty. Rather, it is a living, heartfelt practice that brings joy, humility, and a profound sense of closeness to Allah Almighty. Teaching gratitude through joyful games shows children that faith is not exclusively solemn; it is also filled with moments of light and happiness. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Ibraheem (14), Verses 7: 

‘And (remember) when your Sustainer made this declaration; (saying that): “If you show gratitude, I (Allah Almighty) will indeed, amplify them for you (provisions and sustenance); however, if you become ungrateful, then indeed, My punishment is Meticulous (in execution)”.’ 

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that gratitude is a catalyst for increasing our blessings, and that finding joy in noticing them is a way to draw closer to Allah’s mercy. 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 466, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for this will better enable you not to belittle the favours of Allah.’ 

This profound guidance teaches us that true gratitude stems from sincerely noticing the blessings we already possess, especially the small ones, rather than from constantly comparing ourselves to others. 

By combining playful laughter with sincere noticing, parents can create gratitude games that align with both psychological wisdom and core Islamic values. Through these games, children learn that thankfulness is not a chore to be forced; it is a joyful lens through which they can learn to view the world, deepening both their emotional resilience and their spiritual contentment.