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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the word “grateful” is thrown around quite often. And while we think it’s a great time of year to embrace it, here at Kids R Kids, we love to create an environment that fosters that in our kids year-round. How can we do this? We love to speak about our feelings, do activities that promote empathy, and encourage positive relationships among our classmates and teachers. How can you continue this at home? We’ve compiled five easy ways you can promote thankfulness in your kids’ lives. You may even be doing these things already, but they’re beneficial things to continue with your kids to promote thankfulness.
Five ways to promote thankfulness
Teach and model thankful behavior
Every day we have several reasons to be thankful. Acknowledging these things, moments, and experiences are important. Even when going out to dinner, it’s important to model respectful, thankful behavior to servers. Show manners and say “thank you” to your servers and anyone else who helps you out throughout the day. The more you do this, the more it’s second nature for your kids to say thank you.
Speak about what you’re thankful for
Kids are like sponges and recreate what’s around them. If you vocalize when you’re thankful for an experience or how someone treats you, make sure to express that. As kids see and understand where these feelings of gratitude come from, they’ll think about things in their lives that they are appreciative of. These may even be small, trivial things, but can transfer to larger things as they embrace the feelings.
Support a cause or charity
Showing that you’re grateful and want to give back to an organization can show how they can give back in the future. Larger organizations with a cause naturally provide causes to care about and grateful behavior. Make sure to explain to your children how your contributions or time spent can directly impact things bigger than them.
Make it a regular practice to speak about what they’re thankful for
This may be a nightly talk or dinner conversation. We often do this around the Thanksgiving dinner table, but adding it every day can increase your kids’ thankfulness year-round. It’ll also be great for them to see their parents and siblings partaking.
Acknowledge when your kids are being thankful
Feelings and emotions are big and sometimes hard to understand as a kid. If you notice your kids being grateful or thankful, it may help to have a conversation. Acknowledging when they have these moments encourages the behavior and naturally promotes this behavior more frequently.
Cultivate Thankfulness with Kids R Kids.
Our VPK program sets your child up for success in Kindergarten and beyond. Your kids can participate in many activities that will naturally promote gratefulness for many things they encounter every day. In our classroom, thankfulness is practiced and encouraged year-round.
Enroll your child today by calling 407–306–9035 or filling out our online form.