Teaching kids and young adults the art of gratitude can feel like a difficult task. We live in a day where we are surrounded by fancy technology and the need for always having the newest gadget on the market, it can be challenging to keep a grateful mindset. But, giving your kids the tools to be thankful and appreciative is worthwhile and necessary. Here are some tips on how to do that.
#1: Start with the basics.
From a young age, teach your children to say ‘thank you’ on a regular basis. If someone gives them something, or if a sibling or friend shares something with them, give them a gentle reminder to say thank you. Encouraging your child to express genuine appreciation is an important step for their life that leads to the development of genuine gratitude as they get older.
#2: Plan a ‘give back’ day or perform regular acts of kindness.
Giving to people around you is one of the best ways to instill appreciation for what you have in life. This is also true for children. To help encourage an appreciative and grateful heart, consider what ways you and your kids can perform acts of kindness for others you meet. Or plan a day that includes giving back to the local community. Maybe this includes going shopping for clothes, socks, or food for people in need, or writing letters of appreciation for first responders. Or perhaps it means volunteering at a local food bank or homeless shelter serving meals or helping a neighbor with yard work. Talk to your kids about what ways they would like to give to those around them and plan to make it happen.
#3: Model appreciation.
Showing your kids what it means to be appreciative speaks louder than anything else you can do. Kids that see and hear their parents or nannies experiencing appreciation and gratitude is key. Let them hear you say thank you to others. Talk about what things you are most appreciative for and make a note of things that you’re thankful for – even on the hard days. And, if you see your kids sharing a note or word of appreciation to someone, praise them for that.
#4: Establish appreciation practices.
Making a habit of regularly expressing appreciation in your family is a great idea. There are a lot of ways to do that, including sharing one thing that they are appreciative of around the dinner table or before bedtime. Or, at the beginning of the week, talk to your kids about one way they want to express their gratitude or appreciation to someone during the week. Although it might feel a bit forced at first, it helps form a positive habit that will hopefully become second nature over time.
Appreciation is not only a great practice for children to learn, but it also helps adults focus on what’s important in life. You’ll never regret making appreciation a priority in your home.