Teaching kids to be grateful for what they have

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Here are a few ways to start teaching your kids about gratitude.

(1) Focusing on giving thanks.   Let your children see you when you tell your husband “thank you for filling up the van”.  Let your children hear you when you tell your child’s teacher “Thank you for being a great teacher.”   Let your children feel when you hug them when they have done something kind.

(2) Helping your kids gain perspective is key to a grateful heart.

(3) Tell them stories about times when you helped someone else. Kids love to hear things like this so be a great example, even when they aren’t watching.(4) Having grateful kids starts first with yourself.

(5) Start the tradition of a thankful tree.   It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving to have a thankful tree.   Do it one weekend and continue it …

(6) LOOK at your child!  Let your child know that you see them and hear them.  Let them know when you are proud of them.  People love words of affirmation.

(7) Start a family night where you all share something you are grateful for.   Have a game night or movie night, but before you start, talk about why you love being in this family.

(8) Teach your kids truth about being satisfied.  My friend, Kristen says it best.  “ We were created for the eternal.  This life isn’t the end. All our striving and obtaining and we all end up leaving this world with the same thing: nothing. We are eternal beings, created for eternity. So, the temporary things of this world–that feel good and are fun are temporary. They will not last. Kids also don’t have the perspective of hindsight. Everything here and now feels life forever. They need us to gently remind them that this world will never quench the hunger we were born with.” (read the rest here)

(9) Something as simple as teaching kids to say “please” and “thank you” is key!  Simple and effective.

(10) Play gratitude charades! “Each person takes turns drawing or acting out what they are most thankful for.”

(11) Create an annual Thanksgiving tablecloth.  We do this at Thanksgiving, but tweak the idea to make it your own- maybe you create a “grateful” tablecloth every month, where you add one thing that happened that month that made your thankful or grateful.

(12) Try going without –>>  “ When we cater to kids’ every whim, from packing their favorite hard-to-come-by treat in lunches to ensuring they always have the latest smartphone, kids feel entitled to the niceties of life.

To help kids feel grateful for what they have, try doing without. Figure out what your family can do without for a week or a month. Is it eating out? Turning on the TV? Air conditioning? Cutting back on some conveniences may not seem comfortable at first, but it’s a great way to do a family appreciation check for what you do have, and foster empathy for those who do without.’

(13) Fill a jar with service activities!

(15) Challenge your family to 24 days of random acts of kindness.

(16) Teach your kids to write thank you cards.   This is hard to do, but so important.

What about you? How do you teach your kids about gratitude?

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