Thanksgiving just passed and it’s time to keep those lessons of gratitude alive during the holiday season. But what is gratitude?
The dictionary defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for, and to return kindness.
In the article The Psychology of Gratitude, Emmons and McCullough define gratitude as an individual’s ability to recognize and appreciate positive things in life and realize that this goodness comes from outside themselves. Gratitude is not just a feeling of satisfaction, but an active attitude in appreciating the gifts received. Jennifer Katzenstein, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital stressed the importance of teaching gratitude to our children, not only for its value, but also for its health benefits, including less stress, better sleep, improved optimism, better relationships, and less reported anxiety and depression.
Passmore and Oades’ 2016 study emphasized that gratitude could help build and maintain relationships with others, resulting in hope, life satisfaction, and more proactive behaviors toward others.
Here are ways to help your kids practice gratitude:
- Start with please and thank you – Gratitude starts with appreciation. It was having the grace to acknowledge other people’s generosity. It also teaches our children humility and eradicates a growing sense of entitlement. Teaching our kids to say thank you and please allows us to gently remind that manners go a long way in life.
- Teach children the act of kindness – Children need to learn at a young age that kindness triggers a chain of positive reactions. When we share, give, compliment, help, listen, and look out for others, we begin a series of good things that make our surroundings lighter.
- Little things mean a lot – As parents and educators, we must stress to our children that every little act of kindness means a lot. Grand gestures are not always the key to a great day. What makes our day amazing are those steady, sometimes meaningless things. Even a smile means a lot. It does cost us to smile at someone. It is free, but a smile goes a long way in making the recipient feel extra special.
- Sharing moments of gratitude – Sometimes, it is important to teach our children to express gratitude. Not just because it was expected of them, but more because expressing gratitude allows our kids to reflect on what happened and how it has lifted their spirits. As they say, a thankful heart is a joyful heart.
- Encourage children to give – Gratitude works both ways. It brings joy to the giver and the receiver. It is not only material things that we give, but also non-tangible things like our time, kindness, effort, etc. Encouraging children to be cheerful givers makes them more appreciative when it is time for them to receive.
As they say, start them young. A published report by the American Psychological Association pointed out that gratitude has become increasingly popular as families and schools have recognized the importance of social-emotional learning. It also confirms what parents and caregivers have known for a while. That is, feeling grateful is good for our kids.
Let us all work together to help our children grow happy, healthy and well-adjusted individuals.
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays, everyone, from Celebree School of Ashburn Farm.
