Inspiring Gratitude in Your Child

It is a gift to your child when you teach her/him ways to experience gratitude in the simple things in life. There are many choices when you decide to inspire gratitude in your child. I am suggesting six ways to foster gratitude.

• Adopt a family at Christmas. Adopt a family in need at Christmas. Get them a month ahead of Christmas, go to their homes, eat meals with them and really get to know the life situation and needs of the other family. Over the years it will be an incredible experience for your children. Our family did this for many years. My children are adults but our holiday conversations always go to the memories of the families that we merged with for that season and became a bigger family. We all became new and different people.

• Volunteer. Volunteer at homeless shelters, public housing projects and after school programs. This instills a greater understanding of the larger world and helps develop compassion in your child.

• Give to others. Have a blessing box in your home. Each child puts a part of their allowance or any money they have into the blessing box during the week. Have a weekly family meeting and discuss what should be done with the money at the end of the month. Each child in the family takes a turn deciding where the money should go. It teaches your child that they have a responsibility to care for others. This develops a great sense of compassion and gratitude in your child.

• Thankful prayer. Teach you child gratitude by praying before meals and before bed. In those prayers focus on the needs of others in the world and be grateful for your many gifts. It is also critical to listen to your children’s prayers. You will discover what is in their hearts and minds.

• Travel. Travel with your child. Traveling around the world allows your child to experience how others live in other cultures and countries. Seeing how other people live can make your child very grateful for living in your home and being an American.

• Take your child to work. It is important, if possible, to take your child to work with you. Many children have no idea where their parents go when they leave for work each day. Taking your child to work lowers their anxiety and gives your child a sense of confidence about you. When your child accompanies you to work you will experience a powerful sense of bonding and stronger bond of communication. Your child will experience gratitude for the hard work you do everyday to provide a living for your family.