Although the winter holidays are behind us, showing gratitude – for both adults and children – is just as important now than ever before. Here are five simple tips (effective year round) that can help instill your child with a life-long understanding of gratitude:
Instill Gratitude in Your Child – Say “Thank You”
One of the simplest, yet most powerful ways to help teach a child to understand, feel, and show gratitude is by teaching them to say “thank you.” When “thank yous” are a key element of the conversation and vocabulary within the home, they help create life-long habits (even if saying or knowing when to say”thank you” doesn’t stick right away).
Instill Gratitude in Your Child – Show Gratitude as a Parent
Lead by example. Whether it’s through remembering your “thank yous” or by showing gratitude for the things – both large and small – that your children do, outwardly expressing your own sincere gratitude in way that your child can see goes a long way.
Instill Gratitude in Your Child – Give Back
Be it to a specific cause or the community at large, giving back is a great way for your child to help others while gaining exposure to the world around them. Through volunteering, spending time with an elderly neighbor, or helping at the local community center your child becomes less likely to take their own family, health, and well-being for granted.
Instill Gratitude in Your Child – Talk About It
Discussing gratitude and things that your child might be grateful for can be as simple as asking them, ” What are you grateful for today?” Asking questions like this one regularly (not just around the holidays) is a great way to help your child recognize the aspects of their life that they’re most grateful for.
Instill Gratitude in Your Child- Meaningful Rather Than Material
Imbuing your child with a set of values that emphasizes life’s meaningful experiences rather than its material possesions is an important step on the road to gratitude. As a simple example: When it comes to the holiday season, the most valuable thing is time spent with family and friends, not the toys or presents a child may receive.
Instill Gratitude in Your Child | Takeaway
Parents want the best for their children and they want their children to be the best people they can be. Learning to understand and express gratitude, which serve as some of the first steps on the road to adulthood, take time. If there’s one thing that all children need in order to become the best people they can be, it’s a patient, guiding hand to help them get there.
