Thankful Hands: Using Baby Signs® to Teach Gratitude
🧡 Thankful Hands: Using Baby Signs® to Teach Gratitude
Helping Babies Express Appreciation Through Signs
November is the perfect time to focus on gratitude — and believe it or not, your baby can join in too!
With the Baby Signs® Program, even the youngest members of the family can learn to express thankfulness long before they can say the words.
Whether you’re preparing for Thanksgiving or simply want to nurture kindness year-round, teaching signs like THANK YOU and PLEASE helps your baby connect emotionally, communicate respectfully, and share in the joy of giving and receiving.
🙌 Why Teach Gratitude Early?
Babies and toddlers naturally learn through repetition, modeling, and connection. When they see you consistently say and sign thank you or please, they begin to associate those gestures with kindness, appreciation, and positive social interaction.
Signing gratitude-related words:
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Reinforces good manners and empathy
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Encourages social-emotional development
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Strengthens family connection
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Builds language and communication skills
Even if your baby can’t yet say the words, their hands can express the feeling.
💕 Signs of Gratitude to Teach
Here are a few Baby Signs® to try this month:
🖐️ THANK YOU – Start at your lips and move your hand forward, as if sending thanks outward.
🤲 PLEASE – Open palm moves in a circle on your chest.
🍽️ MORE – Touch fingertips together to ask for more food or fun!
👩👩👧👦 FAMILY – Make “F” handshapes and circle them around each other.
🥰 LOVE – Cross arms over your chest in a self-hug.
These simple signs can be used in mealtime routines, playtime, or when reading stories about thankfulness and sharing.
🦃 Practice Gratitude During Thanksgiving
Here are a few fun ideas for introducing gratitude through signs this season:
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During Family Meals:
Encourage your baby to sign THANK YOU when receiving food or a special treat. -
At Storytime:
Choose books about kindness, family, or giving, and sign key words together. -
When Sharing Toys:
Practice PLEASE and SHARE while playing with siblings or friends. -
Bedtime Reflections:
As you say goodnight, sign LOVE or FAMILY to end the day with gratitude.
Small, meaningful gestures like these help your child see gratitude not just as a word — but as a way of life.
📚 Baby Signs® Tools to Support Thankfulness
🧡 Thanksgiving Poster Pack
Features signs like THANK YOU, FAMILY, EAT, and PLEASE — perfect for home, classrooms, or storytime.
🧡 Food Signs Poster Pack
Help your baby communicate during mealtime with this colorful digital set featuring 32 easy-to-learn food and mealtime signs like EAT, DRINK, CRACKER, APPLE, BANANA and BREAD.
🧡 My Mealtime Signs Video
A fun, engaging way for babies and toddlers to learn common mealtime signs through songs and playful demonstrations.
🧡 Mealtime Signs Poster Pack
Encourage good manners and communication around the table with signs for EAT, MORE, PLEASE, and ALL DONE.
🧡 Quick Reference Guide
Keep this handy list nearby to model signs consistently.
🧡 Parent Guide
Includes easy tips and illustrations for teaching gratitude through daily routines.
🧤 A Season — and Skill — to Be Thankful For
Gratitude is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.
By signing thank you and please early on, you’re not just teaching manners — you’re nurturing empathy, connection, and confidence.
This November, let your hands do the thanking. 💛
