Actions speak louder than words; kids indeed imitate those acts and things that they see with their eyes, especially if its the doings of their parent/caregiver. So why not use their ability to imitate you as an advantage to practice gratitude?
There are many ways to express gratitude; through words, small gifts, or acts of reciprocity. If you want to lead a peaceful and happy life, it is necessary to encapsulate gratitude into life. Gratitude helps to maintain the strength and the supportive relation of kids with society and family life itself. Making gratitude a priority at home will benefit the child as well as each member of the family. It allows kids to be connected with the more optimistic and happier side of life than focusing on the negative, which may lead to children being less grateful about family and focus more on the negatives of society.
With Thanksgiving coming up, now is the perfect time to start teaching your kids and help them develop thankfulness and gratitude within themselves and the family as a whole. Keep on reading to see the methods you can try!
1. Teach Gratitude to Your Child
Gratitude is more than just saying thank you. Teaching your kids to have good manners and express gratitude is a difficult task, but it is not impossible. You can teach them but try not to lose patience; treat them with love and care. Besides practicing Gratitude in front of the kid, sit in front of them, don’t be shy, and teach them the little things. Ask your kids questions about gratitude, as asking the problem will help them learn and better grasp what the concept you are trying to teach them.
2. Practice Gratitude at Home
You can create a thanksgiving habit in a child when you practice it at home in front of them. Teach them to say thank you and sorry when it is needed. The main thing that parents should do is try to exhibit the best manners in front of your child so that they can watch and learn from you. Tell your children about the importance of saying “please” when they want anything and saying “Thank you” after receiving anything. It is even better when you yourself incorporate these phrases in a conversation or any other situation as much as you can.
3. Make Gratitude a Ritual
To instill gratitude in daily life, make it a ritual. Express gratitude daily. You have to water the plant which you want to grow in your child. You can do it by discussing it daily in front of your child and discuss the positive sides of things when sitting with family and kids. Every night, ask your child one thing they are grateful for. You can make it a habit if you practice it daily; it will create a sense of happiness and inner peace. If you make it a ritual, family, and kids also start to follow it. Making it a routine will crush all the worries and overcome all the obstacles in your way.
4. Encourage Them to Help Others
Encourage your children to smile and say kind words to others. At family dinners, talk with your child and the family, listen to them, and ask them what they did good that day. Encourage their excellent work, which will create a sense of confidence among them and boost them to do more good things. Teach your child how to help others who are less fortunate than you.
5. Spend Time With Your Child
The best way to express Gratitude with others is to spend time with your child. Sit with them and discuss things and appreciate the efforts they do. It will help you to grow closer as a family and find creative solutions to problems.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, teaching Gratitude to your kid feels like an uphill battle, but it is not impossible. It will be worthwhile in the future for your kid if you face this challenge and teach them how to be grateful in life. Gratitude helps to remove negative emotions and allows them to enjoy the present time. There come times when your child feels ungrateful or discouraged. When these situations arise use your responsibility to teach your child. Try to work on new gratitude strategies and let them grow mentally. If you want to develop thanksgiving habits and practice Gratitude within the children, following the steps mentioned above will help you achieve your goal.