5 Simple ways to teach children to always be grateful

The importance of teaching children to always be grateful

Gratitude means being grateful for what children have, feel, and go through during their life. By learning to be grateful, children will be much happier and feel satisfied with what they have.

Not only does it bring happiness, children who are more often grateful have a more positive attitude toward their family and school. Therefore, it is very important to teach children to be grateful.

As quoted from the Greater Good Science, UC Berkeley page, gratitude includes four aspects:

Realizing what things to be grateful for
Realizing why we are given or have things to be grateful for
Be aware of what you feel when given or have various things
Show gratitude

Adults and children over 12 years of age may already be able to feel gratitude with these four aspects. However, very young children may only be able to fulfill some of the above aspects. In fact, it is not uncommon for them to only do it if ordered by other people or parents.

Therefore, special strategies are needed so that children understand what gratitude is and why it is so important to do so.

How to teach children to be grateful

In general, gratitude is an awareness of what or who is making your child's life better. If they learn this positive side, they are likely to be less demanding or selfish.

What's more, they can appreciate what they already have rather than being too focused on what they want.

Here are some ways to teach children to be grateful.

1. Give surprises, but limit the choices

Surprise can make children see something as a gift, not just a right. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to have too many choices to make it difficult for them to choose, so the choices given don't look good enough.

For example, when you and your family are going on vacation, it is a habit to give a choice of where you and your children are going. Everyone has their own vacation ideas, so it is difficult to decide which place to choose.

As a result, the discussion of vacation spots turns into a battlefield in which your kids want their individual ideas granted.

One fairly effective and simple solution can actually be done by saying that you have a surprise. A few days before the D-Day, determine a place your family may not have explored.

In this way, your child knows the importance of remaining grateful.

2. Teach children their past

Usually, this one method will work when your family used to experience difficulties and get up because they are trying their best.

For example, suppose your great-grandmother works by helping other people iron clothes and that money is what supports their children to this day. The iron then becomes a symbol of the true meaning of hard work.

Or your husband had a pretty sad childhood and struggled to live even though he was alone. That way, you as a parent can remind them that what they have is the result of their father's hard work.

3. Don't spoil the child too much

As a parent, of course you want to give the best for your children. However, those best principles don't mean that you say yes whatever, whenever they want.

This can actually reduce their gratitude and make children less appreciative of the things they have.

Therefore, the way to keep children grateful is not to spoil your child. If they want a new toy, take a look at the last time you bought a child a toy and ask them if they really need one.

4. Encourage them to share

Generally, a fairly effective way to keep children grateful is to teach them to give something to someone in need. For example, sharing in an orphanage or nursing home.

In addition, you can also ask your child to help neighbors who may need their help. For example, having children bring the remaining portion of food to neighbors who live alone.

Children who are willing to take the time to participate in volunteer activities like this make them much more grateful for the life they have.

5. Say thank you

One of the simplest ways for children to understand what it means to be grateful is to say thank you to others.

Gratitude can be expressed through a complete sentence of gratitude. For example, "Thank you, Mother, for bringing me lunch." Try to encourage the child to say thank you to the person who helped them.

In addition, you should set an example of when and how someone should say thank you. With you being their role model, the children will do it too.

Basically, teaching children how to always be grateful seems easy, but it can be difficult if you give up easily. Besides reminding them to be grateful, you can be too role models children so that they know what they are doing is positive.