Help children practice gratitude, recognize unhelpful thinking patterns, and explore more balanced thoughts with the Gumball Gratitude CBT Game! This playful digital and printable activity uses 30 interactive scenarios, 60 printable scenario cards, and a gumball-themed board game to help kids notice the difference between "icky sticky thoughts" and thoughts that make room for gratitude, even when something feels disappointing or frustrating.

Through real-life scenarios, sorting activities, and guided discussion, children practice identifying thoughts, considering alternative perspectives, and recognizing things they appreciate. Grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) concepts, the game encourages flexible thinking without suggesting that children should ignore difficult emotions or feel grateful for upsetting experiences.

Aligned with Session 11 of Skills for Big Feelings: A Guide for Teaching Kids Relaxation, Regulation, and Coping Techniques, this gratitude activity can be used alongside the curriculum or as a standalone game in child therapy, counseling, social skills groups, and classroom SEL lessons.

📦 What's Included:

✔️ Self-Checking Digital Gumball Gratitude Game

• 30 interactive scenarios in Google Slides that help children practice recognizing grateful and unhelpful thoughts, with immediate feedback.

✔️ 60 Printable Gratitude Scenario Cards

• Discussion cards featuring situations that encourage children to examine thoughts, explore gratitude, and consider more helpful perspectives.

✔️ Printable Gumball Gratitude Board Game

• Includes a game board, dice, spinner, and cards for hands-on gratitude and CBT practice, with color and black-and-white options.

✔️ 2 Thought-Sorting Mats

• Sorting activities for identifying and comparing grateful and ungrateful thoughts.

✔️ Rules for Playing a Game Visual Poster

• A visual support for introducing gameplay expectations and supporting participation.

✔️ Gratitude Worksheets

• Printable activities to extend conversations about appreciation, helpful thinking, and emotional awareness.

🎒 Quick Details: Elementary + middle school | 👥 Individual, small group + classroom | 🖨️ Printable PDF + Google Slides | 🎯 Gratitude, CBT, helpful thoughts + emotional regulation

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Want more engaging CBT games to reinforce the Skills for Big Feelings curriculum?

✔️ CBT Games: Skills for Big Feelings Game Bundle

• Save by purchasing the seven digital and printable CBT game companions together at a discount including Feelings Film Game, Jolly Jellybean Helpful Thought Hunt, Butterfly Thought Changer, Argh You Ready to Measure Challenges? Pirate Game, Bella Bird's Equal Measurements Problem-Solving Game, Donut Worry About Making Mistakes, and the Gumball Gratitude Game

• 🎁 This is a Growing Bundle! Purchase now and receive future games added to the collection at no extra cost. The bundle price may increase as additional games are added, but existing purchasers receive those additions free.

Looking for the complete Skills for Big Feelings curriculum and supplemental activities?

Save even more money by purchasing the Skills for Big Feelings Growing Bundle (paperback or ebook) at a discount!

This comprehensive emotional regulation curriculum gives you multiple engaging ways to reinforce CBT and social-emotional learning skills throughout the school year.

🎯 Skills Addressed:

Gratitude, self-awareness, identifying thoughts, cognitive reframing, flexible thinking, emotional regulation, responsible decision-making, perspective-taking, and self-confidence.

Children practice noticing when their thoughts may be making a disappointing situation feel even harder and exploring whether a different perspective could be helpful.

Gratitude is presented as an optional tool for expanding perspective, not a requirement to replace sadness, anger, disappointment, or other valid emotions.

💡 Ways to Use It:

• Play the 30-scenario self-checking digital game on Google Slides
• Use the 60 printable cards to discuss everyday disappointments
• Sort grateful and ungrateful thoughts using the two sorting mats
• Practice noticing "icky sticky thoughts" and exploring alternative perspectives
• Use the printable board game for interactive CBT practice
• Discuss the difference between acknowledging difficult feelings and finding something to appreciate
• Incorporate the gratitude worksheets into individual counseling sessions
• Use as a companion activity for Session 11 of Skills for Big Feelings
• Practice helpful thinking during child therapy or small-group counseling
• Use the digital game during telehealth or interactive classroom lessons
• Adapt prompts to children's experiences, preferences, and developmental needs

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

Child therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, school counselors, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, classroom teachers, homeschool educators, and families.

Especially helpful for professionals looking for a playful, CBT-informed way to introduce gratitude and helpful thinking without relying solely on written worksheets.

🖨️ Format & Download:

Includes a self-checking digital Google Slides game with 30 scenarios, 60 printable scenario cards, a board game with dice and spinner, two sorting mats, a gameplay visual poster, and gratitude worksheets.

Files are provided in PDF and Google Slides formats. The printable board game includes color and black-and-white options.

Use the digital version for interactive lessons, smartboards, and telehealth, or print the cards, sorting mats, and game board for hands-on practice.

The game aligns with Session 11 of Skills for Big Feelings but can also be used independently because the digital slides review the concept.

This is a digital download. No physical materials will be shipped.

📌 Important Notes:

Gratitude should never be used to dismiss difficult feelings or pressure children to find something positive about painful experiences.

Children can acknowledge that something is disappointing, unfair, or upsetting while also exploring whether gratitude feels helpful in that moment.

Adapt the activities to each child's needs, experiences, and communication preferences.

The Skills for Big Feelings book is not included with this individual game purchase.

This is a digital download. No refunds on digital purchases.