Inside: Discover an unexpected method for teaching children gratitude that encourages them to appreciate life all year round.
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Since having kids, one of my top Thanksgiving traditions is going around the table before the meal, where each person shares three things they’re thankful for. As a parent, it’s both enlightening and heartwarming to hear what truly matters to them.
Every November, we are reminded of the significance of gratitude, prompting parents to raise children who are thankful in a world that often seems self-focused.
Beyond wanting to avoid raising entitled children, there is significant research about gratitude’s positive effects on lifelong happiness, health, and relationships now prevalent in mainstream media. As Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, suggests in his book *Authentic Happiness*, writing daily gratitude letters can boost happiness and reduce stress by transforming our brains.
Knowing how powerful gratitude can be for a child’s emotional well-being, I believe we should focus on it year-round, not just in November. But how do we achieve that?
To nurture a lasting sense of gratitude in your child, you need to go beyond a few holiday activities. The secret lies in shaping their everyday thinking patterns. After all, our emotions and actions stem from our thoughts.
While the holidays naturally inspire gratitude through cherished traditions, outings, food, and family, true gratitude should also extend to the ordinary days of the year.
Surprisingly, you can cultivate gratitude even in those mundane or challenging daily moments when you least expect it. To help your child feel grateful all year, teach them to recognize gratitude not only during the high points of life but also during the lows.
This involves living mindfully during tough times and helping your child trust that life’s challenges often lead to the most significant growth. Reflect on your life; the moments that shaped you might not have been wrapped in glitter but were likely filled with difficulties and setbacks.
This doesn’t mean dismissing your child’s feelings when they face a challenge, like falling off their bike, with a simple “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” It’s important not to push toxic positivity or dismiss their emotions during tough times.
Instead, there are three effective strategies to support your child when they feel overwhelmed, helping them embrace gratitude in their daily mindset.
First, ensure you offer empathy and understanding. When a child feels hurt, anxious, or angry, their emotional brain takes over, making it hard to listen to advice. Feeling seen and heard is crucial.
Every child is different, and some can calm down on their own while others need guidance to redirect their thinking. The right moment to reflect might be later that day or even later in the week.
Encourage conversations about turning challenges into opportunities by changing the way they think about them. This shift in mindset is like having a superpower!
Always start by being present with them in their struggle. Allow them to process their natural emotions of disappointment or frustration before gently encouraging them toward growth and gratitude.
By helping your child manage and find comfort even during struggles, you give them the gift of resilience.
Many of us spend too much energy battling life’s hard lessons, often staying stuck longer than necessary. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way.
By guiding your child to reframe their mindset around challenges, you’re equipping them with the tools to live gratefully in all seasons of life.
Instead of shutting down during setbacks, your child will learn to navigate through them in healthy, life-affirming ways. You’ll not only foster a naturally thankful mindset, but you’ll also teach them to value challenges and mistakes as chances to learn and grow, ensuring they become resilient individuals.
