How Gratitude Can Lead to Reading Success

This Thanksgiving week I've thinking a lot about the connection between gratitude and learning. For children learning to read, especially those who find it challenging, gratitude can play an important role.

Why Reading Can Be an Emotional Journey for Children

Learning to read isn’t just an academic task; it’s an emotional journey. 

It can feel frustrating and discouraging. Students face challenges such as:

• Difficulty recognizing words accurately and automatically

• Trouble understanding what they read

• Fear of making mistakes in front of others

When reading feels difficult, kids can quickly fall into a cycle of frustration which then affects their self-esteem and willingness to keep trying. When children feel stuck or behind their peers, they might lose interest or avoid reading altogether.

Gratitude Shifts Focus from “Hard” to “Possible”

Gratitude is often thought of as thanking others or feeling happy about what we have. In the context of learning, it means noticing and valuing personal growth which  helps students break the cycle of frustration.

When children pause to recognize what they have learned — the new word they decoded, the page they read with fewer errors, or the word they finally spelled correctly — their brain gets a boost in confidence and motivation.

One of the most powerful tools we can give our kids is the ability to notice their progress and learn to feel proud of it.

Gratitude highlights the mini victories that often get overlooked. Those victories helps kids realize:

• “I can do hard things.”

• “I’m getting better.”

• “Reading is something I can succeed at.”

This mindset shift helps children bounce back faster when faced with a reading challenge and supports reading development by:

• Building positive emotions: Feeling grateful for progress creates positive feelings that make reading more enjoyable.

• Increasing motivation: Children who appreciate their efforts are more likely to try harder and persist through challenges.

• Strengthening self-awareness: Gratitude helps children reflect on what they have learned and how far they have come.

• Improving focus: Positive feelings reduce anxiety, allowing children to concentrate better on reading tasks.

  
  

When students focus on and express gratitude for success, it reinforces their achievements and encourages continued effort.

Parents' Role of Emotional Support in Reading Success

Gratitude is part of a larger emotional support system that helps children succeed in reading. When parents notice and celebrate small steps forward, kids feel seen. Their effort feels meaningful, and they’re more willing to keep trying — even when reading is tough.

Parents' encouragement and emotional support includes:

• Listening to children’s frustrations without judgment

• Encouraging a growth mindset: mistakes are expected and are a part of learning

• Providing consistent praise for effort, not just results

  
  

Together, gratitude and emotional support create a safe space for children to develop reading skills with confidence.

Encouraging Gratitude Beyond Reading

Gratitude isn’t just a warm feeling — it’s a learning strategy. It builds resilience, strengthens motivation, and helps children approach challenges in other areas of life. Gratitude helps children:

• Manage stress and frustration

• Build positive relationships

• Confront obstacles with a positive mindset

  
  

By fostering gratitude we equip children with skills that support lifelong learning and well-being.