10 Ways to Foster Gratefulness in Children

Young children are an unconditioned species. Meaning to say, they do not carry enduring biases and do not show set patterns of responses to particular situations every time. They also adapt to new situations fairly quickly and have an inquisitive mind that’s open to learning.

That’s why it’s very easy to teach children particularly anything including emotional behavior.

Raising children to be grateful human beings has lifelong consequences. A grateful nature reflects an optimistic and positive mindset and such an emotional response is far more capable of dealing with ambiguous, challenging, dangerous and dynamic events. People who think positively are also able to move past trauma far sooner than ones who dwell on negativity and depression.

Here are ten different ways you can foster gratefulness in children:

1. Encourage the child to say thank you and sorry at appropriate occasions. Doing so will help the young one to accept the fact that good things come to us because others have been generous, and therefore it must be reinforced.

2. Expose the child to the outdoors. Let him play in water, grass, sand, etc. Point out the beauty in nature to the child and appreciate it together. This will teach the child to be grateful for his visual senses. Show the child intricate details in a leaf, the designs on a bug and the majesty of a rain cloud to make him aware of the minutiae and the gigantic.

3. Teach him a word that expresses appreciation each time he likes something around him or even on his plate. It could simply be a loud ‘WOW’.

4. Take the child to a zoo or sit with him through a wildlife exploratory film and explain how each animal’s physical attributes are suited to its role in the eco system. Do not call any particular animal ‘ugly’. They’re all beautiful if you observe them long enough.

5. Switch off the television while having food. Encourage the child to appreciate his favourite food verbally. Ask him what he likes about it, how does it feel in the mouth and what the aroma is like.

6. Encourage the child to feel different textures and appreciate their difference. Tough fabrics helps us stay protected against harsh weather and soft ones make us feel cosy.

7. Encourage the child to listen to fine music and appreciate it together in any way that comes naturally to the child.

8. Every night ask the child to tell you what he should thank God for in his life. The answers should be different each time. You will see a boost of creativity in your child as he appreciates a great variety of things from candy to the cousins he has.

9. Read out or make up stories which run around the theme of helping others. Grateful people have enough themselves to be able to help others.

10. Teach the child to take care of nature by encouraging him towards gardening. Gratefulness comes in big spurts when kids see seedlings sprouting, flower forming into fruits and ‘hungry’ plants devouring water!

BONUS: Encourage your child to give away food, clothes or anything that can help someone else.

As you go, you’ll learn more ways to encourage gratefulness in your child and be taught by his fresh approach in return!

photo credit: bondidwhat