Teaching Gratitude to Children

I am a member of several writer's groups on LinkedIn, and the other day, a question for discussion on Writer's Cafe was this:  "As parents, how do you instill gratitude in children?  Do you face any problems while instilling gratitude in your kids?"  I think it's an important question to raise and answer, especially since I'm writing books for children (and their parents as well).  I responded with my input, and want to discuss this issue in today's posting.

Several things come to mind.

1.)  Be a good example to your children; let them hear you thank God for your blessings.  Let them hear you thank people for kindnesses.  Let them see you write thank-you notes of appreciation; talk about the good things people do for you and others, and how much you appreciate that.

2.)  Don't give them all the "stuff" they want just because other kids have it.  Discuss with them the reasons for not buying that expensive popular brand name of tennis shoes or jeans, etc.  I don't think it's a good idea to just say, "Because I said so!"

3.) Plan, shop for and package a shoe box gift with your children for kids through Samaritan's Purse at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/.  The site will tell you what items to package for kids overseas, and where to drop off your Christmas gift.

4.)  Let them hear stories of kids who have no running water, no toys, no Christmas; kids who wear rags, go barefoot, are cold and hungry, have no doctors, etc.  You get the idea. 

5.)  When your kids gripe, kindly say something positive, something to be thankful for.  This Thanksgiving season is a good time to begin building gratitude as a family.

6.)  Here's a fun one:  give each of your kids a sheet of paper and pencil, set the timer for 5  minutes, and have them list all the things they are thankful for.  The child with the most items on the list gets to choose a game to play together, choose a craft to make together as a family, etc.

7.)  Show your kids what God's Word says about being thankful, what God says about being ungrateful. The Scripture warns us in 2 Timothy 3:2 in the last days, there will be terrible times.  Amid the list of terrible things is the word "ungrateful".  In Colossians 3:15 (NIV) tells us ". . . And be thankful."  Ungratefulness is akin to having a root of bitterness, which, God says, springs up to defile many.  Being ungrateful fills our heart with an invisible poison.  God commands us to be thankful, even if we don't feel like finding something to be thankful for.
 
Kids don't have the corner on being ungrateful.  Far too many parents are ungrateful, too; we have taught our children by wrong example.  When they hear us talk about so-and-so's house that is just what we'd like, how we want to take a vacation like our neighbor did, how we don't like the preacher in our church, how high prices are in the grocery store, etc, we are teaching them to complain, be ungrateful, and dissatisfied.

We adults and parents need to live with a thankful, prayerful heart as well.  What I've shared as tips for children applies equally to us, don't you think?

Copyright © 2011 Elaine Beachy