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With the holidays around the corner, we are really put to the test on whether we are raising appreciative preschoolers! As parents, many of us are stressed our children will not react well to how many and what kind of gifts they receive. Try out some of these ideas below if you need inspiration on how to teach gratefulness to your child.
Set a Good Example
If you have been a parent for any amount of time, you know that for better or worse, our kids are always watching us! If you demonstrate thankfulness and appreciation towards the gifts and service you are given, your preschooler is likely to notice and do the same. The next time you are grateful towards someone else, take it as an opportunity to explain to your child why it is important.
Start Small
Like many things with children, start small! Requesting that they use manners such as saying “please” and “thank you” is a great start for young children. While you may have to remind them for a while, eventually your gentle reminders will become ingrained in them.
Don’t Spoil Them
A big aspect of raising an appreciative child is by making sure they aren’t entitled or spoiled. This can be so difficult because we want to give our children everything, but they will be served better in the long run by being grateful. Children who are okay with being told “no” and who view gifts as something extra and not something they are owed, are going to be much more grateful.
Give Them Responsibility
Teaching your child responsibility is important in and of itself, but it will also help them appreciate all they have been given. If you child knows the amount of work it takes to make dinner, next time they are likely to be more appreciative of dinner. Likewise, if your child gets an allowance from doing chores and uses it to buy others gifts, they can more easily make the connection that someone’s gift to them was paid for with hard-earned money.
Try out these ideas and hopefully they will help instill values of gratefulness and appreciation in your preschooler. Even if your child says something embarrassing after receiving a gift this holiday season, remember they are young and continue gently reminding them of what it looks like to be grateful.
If you enjoyed this blog and want to read more, click below for our blog from last month!
Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Round Rock located in Round Rock, Texas? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.