Thanksgiving is a time when we often count our blessings. We encourage our children to list what they are most grateful to have. On Thanksgiving Day, many families go around the dinner table to state something for which they are thankful. It is a beautiful tradition, which too often starts and ends at the Thanksgiving Table.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” —Robert Brault
Although feeling thankful is a natural emotion, gratitude is a skill that needs to be developed through repetition, modeling, and positive reinforcement. We must ask ourselves, “Are we appropriately teaching our children how to be grateful and are we modeling gratitude in our daily life?”
In the world we live in today, more than ever, our children need to develop their sense of gratitude. When one is grateful for the blessings in his life, he feels a sense of fulfillment and purpose. With gratitude for the “small things” our children can grow up appreciating all that is given to them. In turn, they will want to give to others, as well.
“Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happines
Below we have listed several strategies for you to consider for helping develop true gratitude in your child and teen:
- Say “Thank you” – this is the first step to teaching children to be grateful. Give your child several opportunities to say, “Thank you” daily.
- Give Reminders – Often our children are used to us doing daily, mundane tasks for them, that they forget to be grateful- Remind them to be grateful by allowing them to see what would happen (or not happen) if you did not do these tasks. For example: if you don’t make their lunch for school, they would be hungry.
- Be Hands on – Give your children the hands on experience they need to develop gratitude. Let them help you with age appropriate chores, such as raking the leaves, washing the dishes, doing laundry, or vacuuming. This will allow them to better understand the work you do FOR them, helping to build gratitude.
- Be a positive role model- When your child wishes for something a friend has, whether it be materialistic or otherwise, remind your child of what he/she has at home. For example, should your child say, “ I want the new video game that my friend has.” You can reply, “That sounds like a great game. You have a lot of games that you barely play anymore. Let’s go find one that you used to love playing, and play it together. Lots of children do not have any video games. Would you like to donate one of yours to someone less fortunate?”
- Play “Best/Worst”-Each day I ask my children to identify their best and worst parts of their day. I try to remind them that their best parts almost always outweigh their worst parts, and to be grateful for the blessings in their day.
Wishing you and your loved ones as a blessed holiday season.
With Gratitude,
Leigh Ann Errico