Taking Action for National Gratitude Month: A Parent’s Guide
This month of National Gratitude Month is a great opportunity for families to remember to celebrate the good things in our lives. In a hyper-competitive world, just noticing and gratefulness can change our perspective and lead to a better life. But how do we pass this vital virtue on to our children? The following are some tips for being grateful and passing it on to the next generation.
- The Importance of Gratitude
It’s not just "thank you," but a state of mind and lifestyle that can have lasting effects on our mental and emotional health. In fact, gratitude is associated with higher levels of happiness, less stress, and improved relationships. When it comes to kids, understanding gratitude can build resilience, empathy and a positive sense of self.
- What To Do In National Gratitude Month?
1. **Family Gratitude Jar**: Establish a family ritual of a gratitude jar. Invite each family member to list things they’re grateful for on slips of paper each month. Read these notes weekly with each other. That encourages contemplation, but also makes daily blessings feel more important.
2. **Everyday Affirmations**: Do the daily affirmations at breakfast or dinner. Each family member could count something they are grateful for that day. Such an innate ceremony can be used to generate deeper conversations about gratitude and how it affects us.
3. *Acts of Kindness**: Let this month be your giving month. Have a family project where you perform acts of generosity for others, like volunteering at a local shelter or offering baked goods to neighbors. Talking about your experience afterward will teach kids how gratitude affects both giver and recipient.
4. **Gratitude Walks**: Go on family walks and talk about the things that make you feel good- a nice sunset, a dog, a flower. This practice of mindful attention teaches children to love the world.
5. **Journaling**: Make kids journal about their gratitude. They can list three things they’re grateful for every day. This helps to establish a habit of reflective thought, and it helps children see how they are developing.
6. **Narrative**: Tell gratitude anecdotes about yourself. Be it the person who taught you something, or the person who supported you; this can appeal to kids and allow gratitude to be more understandable.
- Tips for Parents
**Exemplify Gratitude**: Children teach by watching. : Try to be grateful every day, for something as small as a good meal or as big as family time.
**Encourage Emotional Expression**: Let children be comfortable to express gratitude and acknowledge the emotions associated with both giving and receiving.
**Pause**: It takes a lifetime to learn and become grateful. Some children may find it harder to appreciate it, so stay on top of them.
Conclusion
This is National Gratitude Month to remind us of the good in our lives and to spread gratitude into our families. With little changes and a conscious effort to applaud, we can train our children to think of what’s abundant and not minimal. If they can start to see the good in their lives, they will be stronger and kinder people. Let’s spend this month taking time to look back, acknowledge, and be grateful together!
