How to Encourage Gratitude
Expressing gratitude has benefits for the kid expressing it, and not just for the receiver. Gratitude is a very powerful tool.
- Higher levels of happiness and optimism.
- Improved sleep.
- Less stress and aggression.
- Increased self esteem.
- Improved resilience.
How to Teach
After age six children start to develop and refine their empathy skills. Some easy ways to practice gratitude.
- Daily reflection: Everyone can share one thing they are grateful for at the dinner table each night.
- Encourage your kids to help others in age appropriate ways.
- Thanking people for the small things they do for us that make our days brighter.
- If you are grateful for someone, write it down and put it into a jar, later read about it together.
- Celebrate kindness: Look for ways you can be kind together, not for any particular reason - just because.
- Make small changes to our speech, instead of saying, “Sorry I’m late”, try, “Thanks for waiting."
- Connecting over shared work, give kids age appropriate chores.
- Parents should model gratitude, for example thank kids for cleaning their rooms.
Information from Mindful Little Minds
