Seven Tips on Raising a Grateful Child

Gratitude goes beyond behavior. However, kids often take things for granted which can unintentionally hurt their parents. Thankfully, there are ways to teach your kids how to be grateful for the things they have and should value in life.

Here are seven tips to help you raise a grateful child.

• Be a Good Example

Generally, kids will learn from watching their parents. Make it a habit to thank a waiter, helpful neighbor, mailman, and even your kids when they help you with household chores. Your kids will follow your example and thank others for helpful actions.  

• Implement a “Thank You” Rule

Encourage your kids to express their gratitude for things they receive from you, even if it is a toy or a glass of water. Make it a habit to say thank you even for small things. 

• Volunteer

Encourage your kids to help the community as it teaches them to be socially responsible. Participate in community programs, such as cleaning the park or volunteering at nursing homes. Try to make volunteering a regular tradition to foster gratitude in kids all year long. 

• Help  Kids Realize How Fortunate They Are

If you want to reinforce gratitude in kids, remind them to be grateful for the beautiful things in life, such as the meal on the table, lovely weather, good health, friendly babysitter, good friends, etc. This will help them appreciate those whom they often take for granted.

• Maintain Journal

Ask your kids to write down what they are grateful for on a daily basis. After a week or two, ask them to read out their gratitude list. As they read and meditate on all the wonderful things that took place over time, they will feel fortunate and grateful for the countless blessings! 

• Donate 

Encourage your kids to be generous by donating clothes, toys, food, or books to underprivileged children. Help them develop a sense of gratitude and realize how lucky they are. 

• Talk About Gratitude

Talk with your kids about how expressing gratitude makes other people happy and ask them how they feel when others thank them for doing something nice. This will help them understand how their behavior affects others and the emotional benefits of being grateful. 

If your child learns to be grateful and appreciates even the little things, they will be satisfied with what they have. Gratefulness builds up a spirit of contentment, which is priceless in the current age of self-seeking and competition. Teach your kids the spirit of gratitude.