Teaching Appreciation to Kids During a Season of Invisible Labor: Free 12-Days of Appreciation Lesson

This time of year is busy for so many of us. Behind every celebration, every sparkling moment, every “magical” memory, grown-ups are planning, prepping, organizing, shopping, scheduling, remembering, and holding the emotional glue of the season together. This is why teaching appreciation to kids matters so much, especially in a season when adults are carrying so much invisible labor.

And teachers? They’re doing all of that while also managing December classroom energy. The themed days, the sugar highs, the crafts, the concerts, the “extra fun” that somehow always ends up on their desks. They deserve a standing ovation and a nap.

So every December, I sneak in a lesson on gratitude and appreciation with my students. Not the basic “say thank you” kind. The kind that helps kids actually notice how much is done for them, especially in a season when adults are stretched thin.

What I’ve learned is that most kids don’t actually see appreciation the way adults do. To them, it’s just the words “thank you.” So we slow it down and talk about what appreciation really looks like, in ways they’ve never thought about before.

1. Their Attitude + Energy

Tone, face, effort, interest, it all communicates appreciation. Sometimes their vibe says more than their words.

2. How They Respond to “No”

This is the sleeper skill no one teaches. When a child can handle a “no” without falling apart, they suddenly start recognizing all the times someone says yes. Respectful responses = appreciation in action.

3. How They Talk About the Experience

Appreciation shows through their excitement, the way they retell a moment, the way they acknowledge the person who made it happen. Gratitude can be spoken behind someone's back in the best possible way.

4. Their Actions

Taking care of their things, helping out, showing effort, being respectful, trying their best… these are appreciation in motion. Actions are thank yous.

At the end of the lesson, I challenged my students to start noticing the invisible ways people support them every day—parents, teachers, caregivers, relatives, all the people working behind the scenes to make their world feel safe and magical.

And honestly? Wrapping up this week lit something in me. It inspired me to create a free resource for The Glow Community , a free 12-days of appreciation lesson for parents and teachers.

• It’s a super simple, no-stress activity (parents and teachers everywhere, breathe). One tiny appreciation focus each day for 12 days.

• Takes under a minute.

• Works at home and in classrooms.

• Helps kids stay aware, grounded, and connected to the people making their world feel magical.

It’s a free holiday lesson plan that gives kids something to notice and grown-ups something to exhale about.

If you are already "Glowing" then you can find this resource in the email I sent with this blog update. If you have yet to join The Glow what are you waiting for? You can also grab it from my TikTok & Instagram Bio Link @thelightbulbjournals

It’s free. It’s easy. And it helps kids tune in to what really matters this season.

And hey, as we ask kids to notice all the invisible labor happening around them…don’t forget to notice your own.

Take care of yourself, too.

I fully plan to do that by making my husband scrub every single baking sheet from my annual “I can totally bake 47 dozen cookies in one night” delusion. We all cope in our own ways.

Stay bright,

Karla

You still have time to grab a few copies of My Bads! The holiday gift that keeps on giving!