As a parent, it’s important to teach your kids to be thankful. After all, there are many things to give thanks for… big and small alike. What are you thankful for? Now share those things with your kids. Give them ideas on what they can be grateful for in their life. For example, they can be thankful for:
- family
- church
- food
- home
- school
- health
- clothing
- toys
- books
- entertainment
- playgrounds
- snuggles
- candy
The possibilities are endless. Start keeping track of what your thankful for. It’s good for you! Keep reading, to learn a few easy ways to instill gratitude in your children.
Design Homemade Thank You Notes
If your kids are into arts and crafts, why not spend time designing thoughtful homemade thank you notes? It’s the perfect way to always have the cards on hand whenever more than a verbal “thank you” is appropriate.
A similar idea is to put together a “thank you” box. Fill a shoebox with inexpensive thank you cards and notes. When it’s time for your child to convey his or her gratitude, there’s a box of possibilities waiting.
Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
Chances are, there’s a soup kitchen in your neighborhood. An organization such as this is a great option for family-based volunteering. Serving others a nutritious meal reminds your kids to be thankful for always having enough to eat, instead of dealing with constant hunger.
Donate Gently Used Toys and Clothing
Once or twice a year, it doesn’t hurt to ask your kids to go through their belongings and choose gently used toys and clothing to donate to needy children. Because it’s common for some children to lose interested in new toys fairly quickly, donating this way is the perfect solution to preventing toys from taking over the bedroom or playroom.
Make a Gratitude Journal
Gratitude journals are super-popular right now and with good reason. These books provide a great place for kids (and adults) to express all that they’re thankful for. The author can include essays, drawings, poetry, pictures… the possibilities are almost endless.
If your kids don’t want to make their own, you can purchase them or even download free versions online.
These are just a few easy ideas to put into play when it comes to teaching children how to be thankful. Instilling gratitude in children at an early age means they’ll continue to be thankful for things all through adulthood, passing the same attribute onto their children as well.
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To get all your Thanksgiving decor and crafts visit Oriental Trading. There are so many Thanksgiving options for you and your kids.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Oriental Trading. All opinions are mine alone.
