Teaching Gratitude to Children
by Rebecca on August 6, 2009
I have this friend. She is amazing. Everybody loves her and she loves everybody. People are drawn to her. I have often wondered what it is about her that people unitedly love so much.
She is one of the most grateful people I know. She is thankful for a good parking spot, thankful for a good joke (really, she’ll thank you if you make her laugh!), thankful for a heartfelt story that touches her.
I wonder if this is why people love her so much. Being grateful all the time must make her at peace. And people are drawn to peace, aren’t they?
I want my children to be like this friend. I want them to have the peace that she has; the kind of peace that makes you glow from the inside.
I don’t know if we’re born with different amounts of gratitude, but I am sure it is something that can be taught and developed.
So I’m teaching Lydia to say “thank you.” Of course, I teach her to say “thank you” for all the normal polite every day things. But we’re also reaching out in order to say ”thank you.” I want Lydia to understand that people do extraordinary things, and we should appreciate that.
We go to a “Wiggle Worms” dance/song group at our library every week. The librarians who put this together stand up in front of a bunch of moms, dads, and toddlers while they sing, shake, and act excited.
The kids go crazy with thrilled happiness. Lydia begs for Wiggle Worms all week long.
So who better to begin our “thank-quest” with than these wonderful librarians! I gave Lydia a piece of cardstock and crayons and told her to color it for the Wiggle Worms teachers. She went to town. Then, I wrote a simple “Thank You” on the front, a little message on the inside, and signed it from Lydia.
We took it to the library and I handed the card to Lydia so she could give it to the librarians. She fumbled a little bit, and ended up chucking it straight at their computer, surprising the previously unaware librarians who were huddled around said computer having an intense conversation.
Even though the delivery resembled hate mail, the librarians were excited to receive the card. Of course, they made a big deal, and helped Lydia feel proud and happy.
How do you teach gratitude to your own children?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like you’re on the right track! Kids learn best by example so as often as they can see you being greatful, the better (I would think). Maybe get with your friend and find out what helped her turn out to be so grateful!
Oh, this is so important!! I canNOT believe the people I work with- grown professional adults, who are incapable of saying a simple ‘thank you’. It really does start at childhood and it has to be taught. I don’t have children yet, but manners and gratitude will be one thing I’m strict on.
I am hoping that I am instilling in Van young that she should feel thankful for everything that gets to do and has. It is hard to know what to do. I think that the thank you note is a great way…besides just going up to people and saying it!
that’s awesome! you are a great teacher to us all
I hope that I am teaching Jimmy to be thankful. But right now he just hits everyone. *sigh*
What an awesome Mom. You got the idea girl. I’m proud of you.
I love how you opened this post. The description of your friend was absolutely beautiful. She sounds like a lovely person.
I, too, strive to model gratitude to my girls. My almost-three-year-old and I often make thank you cards and special gifts for the people in our lives.
Thanks for this inspiring post.