How to Cultivate Gratitude in Children

Gratitude is a way of life that involves showing and feeling appreciation for the things you have and for the kind actions of others. When you cultivate gratitude in your children, you not only teach them to verbally express their feelings of thankfulness and appreciation but you also help them feel these emotions as well. According to parenting expert Betsy Brown Braun, children are not born feeling gratitude -- it is a habit that must be taught.

Instructions

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      Explain to your children why it's important to be grateful to others and why they should appreciate the things they have. Children often have the idea that people "should" do things for them, says Jeffrey Froh, PsyD, in an article for FamilyCircle. Tell your children that people do nice things for others because it makes them feel good and helps them lead happier lives.

    • 2

      Encourage your children to serve others. Find ways that your children can help less fortunate members of your community or assist those who might need a helping hand. Ask your children what activities they might like to participate in, such as shoveling a neighbor's driveway or volunteering at a food pantry. Volunteering can help children become more grateful for what they have, says child psychiatrist Bhawani Ballamudi.

    • 3

      Instruct your children to use manners when asking for and receiving things they want or need. Saying "please" and "thank you" are more than mere verbal expressions of politeness; when children learn to use proper manners for things that are done for them or given to them, they express gratitude and learn appreciation for others, says Nona Melnick, principal at Montessori Children̵7;s House.

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      Model expressions of gratitude. Children are like sponges -- they learn by watching and mimicking their parents. If your children observe your expressions of gratitude, they will learn to develop similar habits and behaviors. Showing gestures of appreciation for what you have and saying "thank you" to others helps your children absorb grateful behavior, according to Wellness Today.

    • 5

      Ask your children to make a list of the things they appreciate and feel grateful for each day in a gratitude journal. Gratitude journals remind children to focus on what they have and help develop a positive, appreciative mindset. The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley has an online gratitude journal where you can submit your child's expressions of gratitude to share with others around the world.

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