7 Ways To Teach Your Kids The Importance Of Gratitude

By The Rev. Christopher Smith, Micki McWade. Posted on Nov 21st 2012.

Do your children know the importance of gratitude?

As a parent, it can be awfully tempting to spoil your kids, especially around the holidays. And while it's okay to regale them with gifts every so often, it's essential that they learn to appreciate what they have. With that in mind, here are some tips from YourTango Experts about how to teach your kids the importance of gratitude:

1. Model gratitude for your children. Your children can easily see if you are thankful for the things that come into your life and whether you share that thanks with the people who bring things into your life. When you model this, you reinforce not only the behavior but also its importance. —Christopher Smith

More from YourTango: How I Honor My Dad On Father's Day (And Every Day)

2. Introduce gratitude as a game. Focusing on small things, play a game where each person shares something that they are grateful for. You can play this game while in the car by naming things that you see; you can play this game sitting in a waiting room by naming things that start with different letters of the alphabet; you can play this game in so many different ways. By making it a game, you are allowing your children to learn about all the things they can be grateful for while not making it too serious. —Christopher Smith

3. Focus on why we are grateful. It is one thing to say that we are grateful for a beautiful day, but it is so much deeper to acknowledge we are grateful for the sun shining because it makes us happier. It is one thing to say we are grateful to have someone as our child, but it is so much more significant to acknowledge that we are grateful that God has given us a child that brings us joy. Are you grateful simply because of things that happen or have you been made grateful at the core of who you are? —Christopher Smith

4. Gratefulness should not just be fostered about good things. If you are teaching your child to be grateful, then don't miss the chance to express gratefulness when things are less rosy. Can you be grateful after a car accident in which no one was hurt? Can you be grateful for a rainy day because crops need the rain? —Christopher Smith

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The Rev. Christopher Smith

Counselor/Therapist

The Rev. Christopher L. Smith, LMFT has served as a national leader around mental health issues both within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in professional counseling organizations. He works directly with individuals, couples, families and supervisees as the Clinical Director of Seeking Shalom in New York City. He also brings his insight to help a wider audience through writing, speaking and consultations.

Location: New York, NY

Credentials: LAC, LMFT, LMHC, MDiv, MS, SAP

Specialties: Couples/Marital Issues, Forgiveness, Spiritual

Website: http://www.SeekingShalom.org

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Micki McWade

Author

Micki McWade, LMSW

914 557-2900

Offices in Manhattan, Mt. Kisco and Fishkill NY

mickimcwade.com

The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions. —Thich Nhat Hanh

Location: Mt, Kisco, NY

Credentials: CSW, LMSW, MSW

Other Articles/News by The Rev. Christopher Smith, Micki McWade:

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