How To Raise Grateful Children

My friend told me about her 3-year old daughter who had refused to take the imported toy from her uncle and also refused to say, “Thank you”. This made me feel some young kids found it difficult to understand others feelings; so parents should actively instill a sense of gratitude in their children from a young age. It has been found that a sense of gratitude made one feel happier, joyful, enthusiastic, interested and determined.

Here are a few ways to instill gratitude in our children:

a) Create a habit in young children to say "Thank you"; parents should say it with their children so they understand the importance of saying “Thank you” whenever necessary. 

b) Set a good example by living it; show appreciation for a real good work done by your children. If your child has cleaned his/her room well show that you noticed it by suggesting the room is clean with all toys put in place.

c) Create daily or weekly routines of expressing gratitude; it would help to ask a child what one felt thankful of that day at bedtime or once a week.  Being thankful makes one feel contented.

d) Gratitude can be taught and instilled through role play; if a child is too shy to say “Thank you” in public they could do so by teaching their stuffed animals and dolls while you play along.

e)  Gratitude can be taught through concrete examples; you could probably play the Rose and the Thorn game where you could project the Rose as something good and the thorns as challenging things; this metaphor helps children develop gratitude even when things aren't going their way. You could probably keep the rose in a vase to remind them of the ups and downs of life.

f) Make it a habit to give and volunteer; set aside toys and clothing when still in a good condition and deliver them together for a deserving cause to organizations like Global Giving that could make a difference to the unfortunate and unprivileged.

g) Ask your children to prepare a holiday and birthday gift wish list along with a list of things they are grateful; these lists are priceless gifts that could be a keepsake for years to come.

h) Set expectations when shopping; fix up look days and buy days for children when they are still young. Ensure that there were more 'look' days than 'buy' days, specifically to inculcate the idea of always not buying things. Children will then learn to be more contented and grateful with what they have.

i) Children need to understand to thank those who serve and make a difference in their lives; it could be anyone like a bus driver or anyone that cleaned after a family lunch out.

j) Children cannot be forced into showing appreciation; be patient, so that your gentle efforts and examples will instill gratitude as a way of life.

Have you been able to raise grateful children?  

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