With Thanksgiving just around the corner, every family can benefit from the power of practicing gratitude together. The word gratitude comes from the Latin word, “gratia,” which is also the same word used in this language to mean grace. When we teach our kids to recall things they are grateful for, they are actually becoming more “gracious” or “agreeable” as people!
In the midst of a challenging year, it can be tempting to complain or focus on all the negative things around us. As effective parents and caregivers, however, we must lead by example and guide our kids to focus on what they do have, as opposed to what they don’t.
If you’re wondering how to teach kids gratitude, we’re here to help. Here are five ways to help your children cultivate and practice gratitude in their day to day lives.
1. Model Your Gratitude
At the end of each day when you’re getting ready for bed or having dinner, share three things that you are thankful for with your kids. Make sure they are easy to understand and relatable for them. Use this as an opportunity to build up their self-esteem.
For example, you can say things like:
- “I’m grateful that this morning we got the chance to have breakfast together.”
- “It was so nice that we could share a car ride to school together. I love spending time with you.”
When you model how to practice gratitude, your kids are much more likely to follow suit.
2. Personalized Gratitude Journal
If your children enjoy crafts, they might best learn about what it means to be grateful by starting a gratitude journal.
Grab a bunch of your children’s favorite arts supplies and purchase a blank journal for each of them. Have each of your kids personalize the cover however they want and instruct them to write down big or small life events that brought them joy. You can make it a habit to all write in your journals together every day after dinner, or at a time that everyone is home together. Make this a conversation and ask open-ended questions to give them ideas on what to write, such as:
- Who or what made you smile today?
- What did you accomplish today that’s worth celebrating?
- Did you do something today that was scary, but you still pushed through?
Having a physical reminder like this with all the experiences they’re grateful for is a helpful tool they can come back to and read over when they are having a tough day.
3. Create a Family Gratitude Board
Get everyone in the family involved to create a big poster, corkboard, or book full of photos, drawings, magazine cutouts or phrases of things that each family member is grateful for. This can be a fun project that you work on together over a week, or that you knock out in one afternoon!
Find physical representations of things everyone can agree are a blessing to your family, like good health, having a house, pets, sports teams, memorable vacations or trips you took, extended family members, etc.
Not only will this exercise increase gratitude, but it will also improve your communication skills and give you quality time together.
4. Write Thank You Notes
Take some time out of your busy schedule to have your kids write thank you notes to positive people in their life.
Perhaps it’s a friend that lent them a listening ear, a trusted adult who inspires them in some way, or someone that they are just happy to have around.
This easy way to practice gratitude will allow them to not only be thankful for their support system but also become an encouragement to someone else at the same time.
5. Community Involvement
Encourage your kids, especially if they are teenagers or nearing young adulthood, to volunteer their time or give generously to an organization whose cause they believe in.
This is especially helpful for adolescents who struggle with depression, anxiety, or have low self-esteem. When they help someone else, they can see that they matter, have value, and can make a difference in the world. Ideas for this can be:
- Collecting Christmas presents for kids in need during the holidays
- Helping to make a meal or bake for a single mom in your neighborhood
- Volunteering their time at a soup kitchen or at a church outreach
Any one of the five activities mentioned can have a profound effect on the health and wellbeing of not just your kids, but your whole family!
KEY TAKEAWAY
Gratitude is an important skill we can teach our children. Encourage them to become grateful by engaging in these activities today.
ACTIVITY
Remind your children that God sees every small act they do by playing Clean Up Treasure Hunt the next time you’re tidying up the house — available now in HopeConnect™ Everyday Moments™.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- Which of these activities can you incorporate into your life this week?
- How can you model gratitude for your children today?
KEY VERSE
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation and for creating a way for me to have a relationship with you. Please help me to cultivate a sense of gratitude in my child for You and the wonderful gifts you give us each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
