An Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one day a year when we getTeach your children to be thankful for the things
together to celebrate all the great things we have inthey have by teaching them not to waste food,
life. But why should this happen only one day a yearclothes, toys or anything else that many children all
when there are things to be grateful for each day ofover the world do not have. Respect is a big part of
the year? By showing your gratitude for thegratitude. Teach your children to appreciate
blessings and happenings that occur in everyday lifeeverything they are given by respecting their
you can teach your children a healthy sense ofbelongings and the belongings of others. Let your
gratitude that lasts all through the other 364 days ofchildren know that if they don't pick up their toys
the year.then you are going to give them to someone who
One way to begin teaching gratitude at a young agewould appreciate them more. They may also not
is to teach your children to use the magic words,realize how lucky they are to have a brother or
"please and thank you." They will need prompting atsister to play with, something you should remind
first to know when they should say please or thankthem of when those frequent sibling skirmishes break
you, but eventually they will learn to say it withoutout.
being told. Not only does this teach them goodIt's hard for your children to imagine life without
manners but it also serves as a foundation for othersome of the things they use everyday. While
ways for them to show their gratitude.gratitude may take on a more simplistic form when
As children get older, show them different ways ofthey are young, as they get older you should remind
expressing gratitude. This may be something likethem of how lucky they are to have the things they
making a thank you card for a gift they received onhave. This sense of gratitude can lead to generosity,
their birthday. By saying thank you in a creative way,and they will be eager to share what they have with
like making a card, you place gratitude in a positivepeople who need it. Starting around the end of
light and show your children that it makes them feelNovember and continuing through the holidays there
good to be thankful. You should also help themare plenty of opportunities for your children to give
understand how even a small act like this can makeback, be it through a clothing or toy drive or helping
someone feel really special. One easy way to do thisout at a soup kitchen. These experiences can teach
is for your to show them gratitude for somethingthem lessons they will carry with them throughout
they have done for you, this way they will be abletheir lives.
to experience the feeling of appreciation firsthand.