According to Amy Morin, LCSW and Carly Snyder, MD, of The Very Well Mind Podcast, Teaching children gratitude can help them feel happier, support better social relationships, and improve overall health and well-being.
In our me-centered world, nurturing thankfulness and gratitude is not easy. Families need to practice this by appreciating each other as often as possible. “Thank you for breakfast” or “Thank you for coming to the table so quickly”, as opposed to regularly only noticing when you are discontent or impatient.
Counting blessings as much as possible as a car game or at the dinner table is a way to set aside regular time for practicing gratitude.
A study published in The Journal of Happiness Studies (2019) revealed that gratitude is linked to children’s development by age five.
According to Raising Grateful Children at UNC Chapel Hill, gratitude has four parts: noticing, thinking, feeling, and doing.
For example, noticing the things for which you are grateful and thinking about why you were given things, along with feeling what it feels like to receive and finally, how to show appreciation, encompass the four key parts.
One idea for showing appreciation is having your child write “thank you” notes to people who give them gifts. This is becoming a lost art. Buying your child some beautiful stationary and special pens can be a way to encourage them while learning this important practice.
Try on different ideas to look on the bright side or create a gratitude ritual and make thankfulness a part of your home. Everyone will get a boost of happiness.
At your Thanksgiving Day table, let each other know how much you love and appreciate all the big and little things each other does and why it makes you thankful.