3 Easy Ways to Teach Your Child Thankfulness

This positive reinforcement is a great conversation opener and sets the tone for the rest of our afternoon because it reminds my child what behavior I like to see and also reminds her that she is capable of being respectful and kind.

Show your children how to keep a gratitude journal.

Children are naturally great artists. They love to express themselves with pictures. I like to keep a binder full of all my daughter’s creative drawings. One of the ways you can use their creativity to help them learn to give thanks is to invite them to draw a picture of the things that make them happy.

Tell your child, “I am so glad these things make you happy. How would you feel if you didn’t have these things?” This conversation should be kept light, not dwelling on the “what ifs” but providing children with an opportunity to imagine their life without some of the things that bring them the greatest happiness. Show them how to collect their pictures and keep them in their own “Gratitude Journal.” Explain that the word “gratitude” means appreciating and saying “Thank you” for the things we have that make us happy.

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For more from Alicia, check out the Alicia Walters Blog.


Alicia Walters
Alicia Waltershttp://www.aliciawaltersblog.com/
Alicia is a mother to four beautiful children, including identical twin boys.  She is the author of Motherhood, or The Widening Gap Between Showers and The Magic of Children at Christmas (coming December 2015), which are available on Amazon.  She writes about family, home and beauty as well as parenting and organization advice on her blog and believes that all mothers have unique talents and abilities that can be used to strengthen our homes and our communities.  Follow Alicia Walters Blog on Facebook and Instagram.

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