Kid’s Get Gratitude
APPRECIATE NATURE
Nature is a major doorway to appreciation. The unarguable beauty and power encountered in natural places inspires a young child’s appreciation. The song of a bird, wind rustling the grass, a butterfly, all are beautiful & awe-inspiring… Let your child experience the wonders of nature through their senses. They will see your obvious pleasure and join you in your appreciation. Share what you’ve experienced later by reviewing the experience. Let your child experience the wonders of nature through their senses then discuss what they appreciated.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR THINGS
Care is an important aspect of appreciation. Help your child take care of their things. Teach them to respect their belongings and the property of others. Demonstrate an attitude of thankfulness for what you have and for your life together. Acknowledgements, celebrations and shared reflection are simple ways to express your gratitude.
SHOW AFFECTION
Affection is a powerful way to express appreciation. Hugs, kisses and loving words show your child how much you value him and others. Simple thank-yous given often and sincerely introduce your child to the graciousness of appreciation. There is no more powerful teacher than your own example!
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES
School age children are strongly influenced by those outside the home. They may encounter those who lack appreciation and respect for people and property. You will need to counter this by continuing to deliberately teach and demonstrate appreciation.
Some way to fun ways to promote gratitude include having a family gratitude journal, creating a gratitude tree where your children write gratitudes on a ‘leaf’ each day. Also be sure to openly thank teachers, coaches and mentors and have your kids do the same.
TANGIBLE APPRECIATION
Older school age children can begin to show appreciation in more tangible ways. It is important to foster the development of gratitude in order to keep your youngster’s heart open at a time when many around them are “shutting down” in this way.
Provide your child with a journal of their own, prompt them to write thank you’s and get them involved in volunteering. Again your own appreciation and how you show it will be the best teacher for your child. Know that how you view and respond to the world around you and the life you live will be the critical factor in opening your child’s heart to appreciation.
COMPLIMENTS ARE KEY
Giving and receiving compliments belongs to a class of social skills involving graciousness. Teaching your child how to give and receive a compliment will help them to appreciate others and to feel appreciated as well.
Sincerity is the key to giving compliments. Voicing your favorable perception or reaction to someone or something is usually best simply stated. A true compliment comes from the giver’s heart and impacts the receiver’s heart. Compliments are often remembered long after they are spoken. They can lift, heal, and inspire great things.
Teaching your child how to give & receive a compliment will help them to appreciate others & to feel appreciated as well. Sincerity is the key to giving compliments. Voicing appreciation is usually best simply stated. A true compliment comes from the giver’s heart & impacts the receiver’s heart. Compliments are often remembered long after they are spoken. They can lift, heal, and inspire great things.
Here are some of the Kid Gratitude Quotes submitted by fans. Enjoy!
Anthony 4, says he is lucky to have his big brothers because they help him and they play with him and sometimes let him play with their toys! He is also grateful for his fire trucks and his cats and dog and his cars and he can’t wait for all the snow to melt so he can be “grapeful” for all his outside toys and stuff!!! ~Submitted by Toni W.
Every night we say our prayers and I ask my son (6) and daughter (4) “what are we grateful for today” and my son always yells out “MY LEGOS” too funny!!! ~Submitted by Mirjana M.
When he was about four years old, our son Daniel, at a family gathering in wonder over something now forgotten, exclaimed; “That is the cutest thing I never saw”. Twenty years later that is how these words are used across our entire family. ~Submitted by Ira B.
