Teaching your children gratitude doesn’t need to be complicated or technical. You don’t need to spend hours sitting at a table explaining complex theological arguments. Children are actually very good at understanding the concept and naturally developing gratitude. All you have to do is give them a little guidance.
Of course, if you wish, you can check out courses.com.au and get a qualification that will allow you to influence and educate children, across the country.
Do It Yourself
The best way to teach your child gratitude is to show them that you are grateful for so many things in your own life. All you have to do is say thank you to people, including your child.
Of course, you should only ever say thank you in a situation where it is deserved and you should always mean it. This will ensure you are setting the right example.
Create Habits
Children are very good at picking up on the things you do. They also love routines and knowing what will happen next. If you create a routine where you spend a few minutes every day listing the things you are thankful for, they will copy.
Encourage your child to think about their own day and tell you what they are thankful for.
Not only will it make them appreciate things more, but they will also develop the ability to reflect and learn from their experiences. That is an essential life skill.
Writing It Down
If you find it hard to express your feelings verbally, or if your child does, then you can still encourage gratitude by writing down what you are grateful for. You can then encourage your child to do the same and even swap your lists.
It will build the bond between you and your child and help you to grow as individuals. You should note that if your child is comfortable writing down things they are grateful for, but doesn’t want to share, that is okay. They are still thinking about their life and the positive side of things.
Don’t forget, thinking about gratitude encourages a positive outlook on life which will help them go further in life.
Help Others
It is also a good idea to help others. Even when you do small things, such as giving your old clothes to charity, you will be showing your child that you are grateful for what you have and realize that everyone is not so fortunate.
Helping others shows appreciation and, therefore, encourages your child to be grateful for what they have.
Read With Them
It may seem surprising but reading can really help with gratitude. Immersing yourself and your children in a book allows their imagination to run wild. It also encourages them to see other perspectives and this will help them to appreciate what they have. In short, they will find it easier to relate to other people and situations. This will enable them to be grateful for the things they have in life that others don’t.
