Gratitude is not just a nice sentiment—it's a powerful tool that plays a crucial role in shaping children into confident, resilient, and successful adults.
Research published by Froh, Sefick, and Emmons in the Journal of School Psychology in 2018 suggests that grateful adolescents (ages 11-13) are happier and more optimistic, have better social support, are more satisfied with their school, family, community, friends, and themselves, and give more emotional support to others. They also found that grateful teens (ages 14-19) are more satisfied with their lives, use their strengths to better their community, are more engaged in their school work and hobbies, have higher grades, and are less envious, depressed, and materialistic.
Nurturing a sense of gratitude in children can have profound and long-lasting effects on their development and well-being. Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday for feasting—it's an opportunity to reflect on gratitude and a reminder to intentionally instill this value in our families.
Here are practical tips and activities to help you promote gratitude in your family this Thanksgiving season and beyond:
Lead by Example
Many children learn by observing. Model gratitude in your words and actions by expressing your own thankfulness for everyday occurrences. By verbally acknowledging appreciation for a warm meal or intentionally praising the efforts your children make towards your goals, your own “attitude of gratitude” is likely to be noticed by others in your family and community.
Create Gratitude Rituals
Establish family rituals that center around gratitude. This could be a daily practice of sharing one thing each family member is grateful for at dinner or bedtime. Make gratitude a focal point of your Thanksgiving celebration this year, by engaging children in preparing dishes or decorations for the gathering and emphasizing the joy of spending time together. Consider creating a gratitude jar where everyone writes (or draws!) what they are thankful for and read them aloud on Thanksgiving.
Volunteer Together
Engaging in acts of service as a family can deepen gratitude. Find local volunteer opportunities such as serving meals at a shelter, participating in a community cleanup, or raking leaves for a neighbor. Consider sprinkling random acts of kindness into your daily routines, such as when out running errands. Through these experiences, children learn empathy and gain perspective on the importance of giving back.
Write Thank-You Notes
Teach your children the importance of expressing gratitude through thank-you notes or other meaningful gestures, like coloring a picture or making a simple beaded bracelet for a relative, teacher, or friend. Taking time to hand-make these little tokens of appreciation fosters graciousness and strengthens relationships.
Encourage Reflection and Discussion
Take time as a family to think about specific people, experiences, or things for which you are thankful. Engage in conversations about gratitude during everyday activities, such as asking children what they appreciate about their friends, pets, toys, hobbies, and so on. While Thanksgiving is a special time to focus on thankfulness, try to keep up this practice year-round!
Practice Mindfulness
Incorporate mindfulness practices into daily routines. Teach children to be present in the moment and notice the little things around them using all of their senses. Deep breathing or mindful walks in nature can help children feel centered and regulated, developing awareness of the beauty all around them as they pause, breathe, and take in their surroundings.
Discuss Gratitude in Stories and Media
Use books, movies, or TV shows as opportunities to discuss gratitude themes with your children. Ask open-ended questions to facilitate conversation about the characters' feelings and actions related to thankfulness.
Acknowledge Effort and Growth
Praise your children not only for their achievements, but also for their progress and positive attitudes. Celebrate small milestones with the whole family, and encourage children to reflect on the support they received along the way and to express gratitude to those who helped them on their journey.
Set Gratitude Goals
Challenge your family to set gratitude goals. For example, aim to express gratitude to someone new each week or commit to sprinkling random acts of kindness into some of your weekly routines. Celebrate gratitude "wins" with the same fervor in which you'd celebrate a game-winning goal or straight A's on a report card!
Integrating gratitude into your family life isn't just about saying "thank you"—it's about cultivating a mindset that acknowledges and appreciates the positive aspects of life. By fostering an environment where gratitude is celebrated and practiced regularly, you equip and empower your children with a powerful skill that will transform their lives and the lives of others. This Thanksgiving and beyond, commit to nurturing a culture of gratitude within your family.
Comments