Celebrated at the beginning of October, Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. It is a day to celebrate harvests and be grateful for the abundance in our lives. Here are 10 ways to teach children gratitude.
Lead by example
Your actions and words have a huge influence on your children. For them to be grateful, you must first be grateful. Take a few minutes to think about your own actions. Do you often express your gratitude or are you more likely to complain? Think about it… and modify your habits if necessary!
Establish a recognition ritual
The time for grace is over, but why not introduce a new me altime ritual? When everyone is gathered around the table, take turns to name one thing to be thankful for. It can be as simple as being lucky enough to use both legs to run super fast during PE class!
Keep a gratitude journal
List the things or people one is forgrateful is good, but writing them down is even better. Every day, each family member writes in the family gratitude journal what they are grateful for. What's interesting is that you can go back weeks or months later, to the delight of the children!
Write recognition messages
On slips of paper, all family members write messages of gratitude and deliver them to whom it may concern. “Thank you for tidying up your room today, I appreciate that. “Thank you for making my lunch this morning. “I am so grateful to still have you by my side after all these years. » Good for the family spirit… and the he alth of the couple!
Give to learn
Children do not learn to be grateful by receiving, but rather by giving. When your offspring is invited to a friend's party, have them make the greeting card rather than buy it. Nothing too complicated: a cardboard box folded in half adorned with a pretty drawing. Make him think of a birthday wish for this friend and write it inside.
Volunteering
Giving time is also a way to learn to be grateful. We talk a lot about volunteering during the holidays, but we can also do it all year round. In addition to learning recognition, volunteering brings many benefits, including improved self-confidence and appreciation for one's community.
Exercise patience
Des$1 sticker sheets. $5 t-shirts. $1.50 balloons. It is now so easy to fulfill the desires of our children quickly and inexpensively. But this has a perverse effect. Indeed, the latter learn more about immediacy and overconsumption than waiting and recognition. The next time your child makes a wish, keep them waiting. Weeks or months. You will see that he will be more grateful when he finally holds the coveted object in his hands.
Watch documentaries
When we compare ourselves we console ourselves. If your kids tend to complain with a full stomach, make documentary evenings part of your schedule. Does your granddaughter complain about walking home after school? And hop, we sit down to watch The paths to school.
Establish a housework routine
With a busy schedule, it's sometimes faster to do the household chores yourself than to involve our children. However, we have everything to gain by letting them perform a few tasks daily. This is how they will realize that clean clothes do not arrive in their drawers by themselves! Find a task that suits your child's age and set aside the daily time needed for it.
Read inspiring stories
Storybooks are a great way to get kids to understand things. Gratitude is part of it. Some suggestions for children's booksto buy or get at the library: Have you filled a bucket today by Carol McCloud (Éditions Nelson Publishing), The Generous Tree by Shel Silverstein (École des Loisirs), The Last Year by Thierry Lenain (Éditions Oskar).
