It can be very difficult to teach gratitude to a child, especially when we ourselves, as adults, often find it difficult to grasp its meaning.
Christmas is more than anything else a time of gratitude. It is the time when we understand a little more the value of sharing, the value of selfless love on all levels.
It is the time when our selfish nature takes a short – unfortunately – break and the concept of supply is more intense and pervasive everywhere. This is the ideal time, if you have children, you can teach them a little easier how to show real gratitude, how to give, how to share without just saying a formal thank you by receiving their gift.
After all, think how many times you have done it. A friend or relative offers your child a gift. Your spontaneous reaction is to say thank you. But even if a child says it, he has little real understanding of gratitude and its meaning.
And I understand that it is very difficult to teach gratitude to a child, especially when we ourselves as adults often find it difficult to perceive it.
But there are some simple techniques that experts say can help your child better understand gratitude and what it really is.
Show gratitude using a variety of phrases
“The best way to get our children to learn values ​​— in this case, gratitude — is to be the first to do what we want our children to do,” says psychologist Christina Furnival.
Using different phrases, express your gratitude and appreciation to the child for something he did. For example, you could say:
“Thank you for leaving your shoes on the door” or “I really appreciate that you came to the room when I asked you to” or even “I feel so happy when you show kindness to your sister (or to another person or animal)!”.
Gratitude can be demonstrated in many ways beyond the standard “thank you”, and this approach enables children to better understand what it means to be grateful.
Do gratitude exercises with the child
According to Christina Furnival, gratitude is easier taught in the little things of everyday life.
“Pay attention to the thousands of opportunities you are given to be grateful and deliberately point them out to your child.” A simple “I feel so grateful that you are my child” can make a huge difference in a child’s psychosynthesis.
Children are wonderful imitators. When you start talking about the things you feel grateful for, your child will simply follow your example.
Establish a daily or weekly practice of gratitude at meal time
Start a ritual of gratitude with your child.
“The more you and your child express gratitude, the more you realize that there is a lot for you to be grateful for! And this as a practice will result in a domino of positive moments and feelings of gratitude for simple everyday things.
So you will not have to wonder how to teach your child gratitude, since you have already nurtured it with her.
Read also:
Christmas Melancholy: A Survival Guide
The 4 signs they need to learn to be more polite to themselves
Savoirville
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