The holiday season has arrived! It’s a magical time of year that allows us all to reflect on our connections with family and friends with special gatherings and outings that make this season so special. Instilling gratitude within your child is one way you can help them find deeper meaning during the winter holidays and all year long!
Studies show that practicing gratitude regularly has proven health benefits, including less stress, improved sleep, stronger immune systems, better relationships, and feeling happier and more energetic. Gratitude is not only defined as the quality of feeling thankful—it’s also an action and readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness. Here are some ways you can practice gratitude and help instill it in your children:
Ask Questions
As parents, we often prompt our children to say thank you, but being grateful extends beyond good manners. We want to make sure our children understand why they’re thanking someone. Psychologists studying gratitude note that asking questions focused on what your child noticed, thought about, or felt about the things they received will result in genuine experiences of gratitude. Here are some examples of NOTICE-THINK-FEEL-DO questions you can ask about your child’s gratitude experiences.
- Can you think of anything else you are grateful for? What about things besides material objects?
- Why do you think this person did this for you or gave this to you?
- How does it make you feel inside to receive this gift?
- How do you think the person who gave this gift to you felt?
- Does receiving this gift make you want to do anything for the person who gave it to you?
Lead By Example
As parents and caregivers, our kids are always listening and watching. Keep an eye out for teachable moments that can help you model gratitude to your children. For example, when you receive help from someone, you can say out loud how it makes you feel. You can tell your child how hard the person must have worked to help you and explain why you’re grateful to them. You can even brainstorm some ideas with your child to find a way to show your appreciation for a kind word or a generous gesture.
Give Back
Giving and gratitude go hand in hand, so find places where you can volunteer together as a family or let your child choose a charity to donate to. Additionally, you can discuss why these places are in need of donations. These actions and conversations will eventually help your child build an appreciation of what they have and help you instill empathy and care for others in your child. Encouraging a spirit of giving will help build a strong foundation of generosity in the future. Take a look at some additional ideas to get your children involved in the process of giving back.
Create Meaningful Thank You Cards
Thank you cards are a great way to show appreciation and creativity, and the perfect opportunity to teach your child the meaning behind it. You can ask them to draw a picture of how they felt after receiving their gift or simple artwork on a handmade card. Ask your child the words that come to mind when they think of the person they are writing the card for and let that guide you and your child as you create a special card of thanks. These sweet cards with heartfelt messages and pictures will be cherished by those who receive them.
Express Gratitude
Create a new family tradition by starting a Thankful Jar, where each family member writes or draws a picture of something nice that someone did or someone they are grateful for and puts it in the jar. Try doing this in the week leading up to Thanksgiving or Christmas. During the holidays, set aside a special time to read these notes out loud together. Another way to express gratitude is to verbally affirm what you’re grateful for each day. For young children, this practice could be something as simple as waking up each morning and listing things for which they feel gratitude and why. Add a dose of love and talk to your children about why you are grateful for them!
Keep It Going
The holiday season is an opportune time to practice gratitude with your children, and you can keep it going into the new year! Try making gratitude an intentional part of each day or week. Ask each family member to share a positive moment from their day or week and how it made them feel. Introduce your child to the idea of “paying it forward.” When they experience a kind event or special gift, encourage them to keep the momentum going by doing a kind action for another person!
Choose A Preschool With An Intentional Approach
At The Gardner School, we believe involving children in the practice of gratitude is an essential part of their learning journey. It helps teach them empathy, kindness, and how to build deeper connections with others. To learn more about why parents choose The Gardner School for their children to grow and learn, fill out our online form to contact us and schedule a tour.