Exploring Gratitude with Your Child

Today we live in a world with instant gratification that is quite different from what we grew up with. Despite having more, children feel less fulfilled and underwhelmed. Exploring gratitude can help children to feel connected to the world around them and live life conte​nt. Below are some techniques created by an independent nursery in Birmingham to help parents explore gratitude with their children.

Manners

Manners are the first place to start. They’re the easiest way to show gratitude and can be taught by using gentle reminders here and there.

Give Them Your Time

Giving someone your time is a way of showing love and a way that you can show a deeper level of appreciation. That might be in the form of offering help or simply spending quality time with your children to show them that they are important and mean a lot to you.

Steps for Exploring Gratitude

The Raising Grateful Children Project at UNC-Chapel Hill found that there are four parts to exploring gratitude. This can be used as a guide by parents. Below are the steps.

1. Noticing – Noticing an act or thing to be grateful for. 
2. Thinking – Thinking about the sentiment behind it.
3. Feeling – Looking at how you feel as a result. 
4. Doing – Doing something in return to show appreciation.

Look At the Brighter Side of Things

When things don’t go as planned, we get disheartened and at times feel angry at the world. Some things work out for the best in hindsight and teaching your child to be reflective can help them to be more positive and grateful. At the time it can also offer comfort and help children to deal with difficult situations.

Be Appreciative of Those Around You

The behaviours and attitudes that children develop come from what’s around them. By looking at the silver linings of situations and showing your appreciation to others, you can teach your child to also do the same.