Teaching Your Child Gratitude

It’s that time of year where we are encouraged to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives to take stock and give thanks for all that we have (first off, thank you for all of your hard work, Roomba vacuum cleaner). Although Thanksgiving and the holiday season bring the importance of gratitude to the forefront of everyone’s mind and social media feeds, it’s a practice that shouldn’t be reserved for one month out of the year. 

According to renowned psychologist, Robert Emmons Ph.D, individuals who practice gratitude on a consistent basis tend to be more  joyful, happy, outgoing, and generous. Gratitude has also been shown to have several health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, less stress and anxiety, and better sleep habits (oh hello, better sleep). As parents, it is our responsibility to help our children form positive habits. Considering the countless physical, mental and social benefits associated with it, teaching the habit of gratitude should be a no brainer! 

Now you may be thinking, “Sure, gratitude is important…but HOW do I actually teach my child to be grateful?” Good question! If you are ready to begin modeling and cultivating the habit of gratitude in your home, here are a few tips to get you started!

Model Gratitude

It all starts with you. Children learn what they see and they pick up your habits (whether you want them to or not). If they see you practicing gratitude on a daily basis, they will learn to practice gratitude as well

Give Thanks Daily

Take time each day to give thanks as a family. It could be during a family meal or part of your bedtime routine. Whenever you choose to do it, it’s important for each child to have time to reflect and share about what they are thankful for that day.

Teach Your Child To Say “Thank You”

about what they are thankful for that day.

Teach Your Child To Say “Thank You”

Sound simple? It is! Although it may seem like a basic skill, it’s incredibly important. By learning to say “Thank You” when they are given something or when someone says something nice to them, it teaches your child to acknowledge in real time the good things they have received. They can start doing this as soon as they start talking. First words: “Mama,” “Baby,” “Why thank you very much.”

Make Your Child Wait

You’ve heard the phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder!” Well, so does waiting. If your little one is given whatever they want, exactly when they want it, they are likely to take these things for granted. However, if they occasionally are made to wait before their desires are fulfilled, they will learn to feel grateful for the things they are given because it’s special and out of the ordinary.

Children’s books are a great way to learn important life lessons. Stories about gratitude can spur important conversations between you and your child. Here are a few good ones to get you started:

The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems  

Sylvester and The Magic Pebble by William Steig

Involve Your Child In Community Service

A great way for children to acknowledge their own advantages and experience true gratitude is to participate in community service. Don’t let the thought of a community service project scare you off…doing service with your children doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult (unlike teaching them to use a fork). Here are a few easy ways to involve your children in giving back to the community:

• Pick up trash in a local park 
• Make holiday cards for residents at a local nursing home 
• Bake cookies for prison inmates or a homeless shelter 

Give Your Child A Gratitude Journal

Get your child excited about gratitude with a gratitude journal. The key to a gratitude journal is taking time daily to record what they’re thankful for. For children who are reading and writing, they can write about it. With younger children, they can draw pictures. Gratitude journals can also serve as conversation starters when you come together to give thanks as a family.

Gratitude is a habit that will reap benefits for your children for years to come. And take it from us – all that hard work as a mom feels just a bit more fulfilling when your kiddos appreciate you! With the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get started modeling and teaching your children what it means to be grateful. 

Resources: 

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids/11-books-to-instill-an-attitude-of-gratitude/

https://www.dillystreehouse.com/how-to-teach-gratitude-to-a-preschooler/