5 Ways To Encourage Gratitude In Children
Being grateful brings many benefits to the whole world. For individuals, this brings benefits to physical as well as mental health. But encouraging gratitude in children, especially when they are in their teens, has a special weight.
Young teens who know how to be grateful and show gratitude are more likely to be happy. They are less likely to have behavioral problems or to abuse drugs and alcohol. Young people who show gratitude also tend to be more optimistic about the future, which is very important when choosing what to study.
But despite the benefits of gratitude during adolescence, youth and gratitude are not always terms that go hand in hand. Parents should encourage gratitude in children, but this is not always easy. Below we provide five key tips to do this.
In other words , it will not be effective to encourage gratitude in children unless you and your partner demonstrate gratitude in your own lives. To do this, you should show your children that you appreciate the good things that are happening around you, from fine weather to delicious food. When you all spend time together as a family, resist the temptation to complain or use the slightest thing as an excuse to protest and criticize. Instead, spend time pointing out things that you appreciate and that make you happy, to promote gratitude in children.
Each person appreciates different things. Therefore, it is important to talk about these ideas as a family. Discuss them together in a relaxed way, and allow everyone to share their experiences and contribute to the discussion.
Do not tell your children what they should be grateful for. Instead, teach them to value what they have and what they experience, even if the small things may seem insignificant.
It is important to help your children find something to be grateful for, even in the worst of times. Even when things do not go as planned, you can show them that good things can happen. Even in the most dramatic, unpleasant and confusing situations, they can learn new and important lessons. It is important to teach them that what can make them suffer today can help them become better people tomorrow.
Sometimes it is not easy to express gratitude and figure out what things can evoke a sense of appreciation. A useful way to express and discover yourself is by creating a wall of gratitude. Choose a common wall in the house where all family members can place grateful messages about everything they feel grateful for.
The wall of gratitude serves as a creative activity that brings the family together and enables members to express themselves and get to know themselves. It fosters thoughtful reflection and gives you the chance to discover many things about life, your family and the type of person you are.
Young people who do things they feel passionate about are much more likely to be grateful. Help your children explore the different opportunities they have in life to discover something they feel motivated and passionate about. Activities that suggest community service are especially good for learning the value of what one has, and for learning to be grateful.
It is important for young people to have a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. When they can make healthy decisions for themselves and feel rewarded by their own positive behaviors, not just what their parents tell them, young people are more likely to experience a sense of gratitude.
Help your children develop the vital abilities of independence, such as problem solving and determination. Provide them with opportunities to make their own decisions. This will help them build a sense of pride in what they have and who they are, which in turn will nurture their gratitude and appreciation for the world around them.
