Tips for Teaching Gratitude to Kids
Teaching Appreciation to Children in a Material World
In a money-centered world, it may feel difficult to teach children the act of being grateful. While merely teaching thank you is a wonderful start, these ideas carry on the sentiment of thanks long after the words have been spoken.
Teaching Random Acts of Kindness
- A homemade, anonymous gift package is a wonderful way to show gratitude. Baskets may include homemade or garden-plucked items, store-bought gifts, and a handmade note of thanks.
- The simple act of leaving spare change on a public bathroom counter with a gift note may help teach the importance of giving.
- Print-out coloring pages with themes of appreciation make excellent gifts of gratitude. Also look for holiday-themed templates such as Father’s Day coloring pages to give as thoughtful gifts.
- Pay for another driver when traveling through a drive-through lane or toll booth.
- Children learn to help others when given the chance to read to, play games with, or teach math to a younger friend.
- Having children go through their belongings periodically gathering unused items to give for charity donations is another way to teach the importance of helping others.
- Many communities offer the opportunity to help those less fortunate during the holidays by adopting a family that cannot afford their own gift exchange or holiday feast.
- Clip coupons to use towards the purchase of food items intended for food bank donations.
- Earn money for charity by running a lemonade or cookie stand.
- Offer to help a neighbor do simple yard work or other chore.
- Run an eBay auction and give a portion of profits to charity.
- On family outings, spend an hour at the beach or park picking up trash.
- Many children will enjoy baking and delivering fresh, homemade goodies to a neighbor or friend.
- Create a homemade dinner for a friend in need, such as after the birth of a baby.
Create an Appreciation Book
As a special honor, an appreciation book for gift giving that includes a personal photograph or drawing on the cover page is an excellent way to show thanks. Assign an admirable trait to each page and decorate these pages with photographs, stickers, and crayons.
While teaching children actions such as holding the door for others, and saying please and thank you are a daily reminder of gratitude, thankfulness can be further ingrained through fun and playful gestures towards others. As children witness those around them showing appreciation, it will become clear that setting a good example is one of the most effective ways to teach gratitude.
Showing Thanks
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