Teaching Kids "Practical Gratitude" - Achieving While Appreciating!
“Gratitude is an attitude”! Being thankful not only makes us happier ‘in the moment’, but improves our overall mindset, giving us everything from better sleep to a stronger immune system, which makes it an essential skill to instil in our little ones.
Here are four simple, practical tasks for children that will not only tick off some ‘to-dos’ but also help teach them gratitude.
1. Pack away belongings
Tidying up is a necessary responsibility, but it also serves as a wonderful exercise in practical gratitude. By encouraging children to not just pack away a toy or book, but to reflect on why they’re lucky to have it, you’ll help them connect caring for belongings with being thankful for what they have.
2. Eating mindfully
What a joy it is to have vegetables! OK, granted, not many kids approach a plate of broccoli this way, but by focusing on how lucky you are to access a bounty of nutritious, delicious foods, you’ll teach your kids a valuable lesson in gratitude, foster healthier attitudes towards food, and hopefully enjoy more peaceful mealtimes as the focus shifts from greens to gratitude!
3. Thanking someone
Adults know all too well how easy it is to take loved ones for granted. Creating something with your child – a letter, drawing or even a video message - for someone you’re thankful for, is a wonderful way to reach out; while focusing on gratitude.
4. Tackling Trials
Conquering challenges feels amazing, but it can be hard for a young person to see the value in a struggle, let alone be thankful for it. By framing failure as a chance to learn and improve, you can help your kids embrace everything from homework to music lessons as hands-on mini-meditations in gratitude.
Of course, almost every ‘to-do’ can become a ‘to-do-with-thanks’, and kids learn by example!
So, go on - wash your car with thanks for transport, praise the teeth you have to brush, and vocalise your gratitude for everything from making your warm bed to shopping for gorgeous groceries. You’ll soon discover - an attitude of gratitude is contagious!
