Teaching kids to be grateful.

Teaching your children to say "thank you" is only half the battle. It’s equally as important to teach them to be thankful like sharing their favorite things or just appreciating a kind gesture. Its a way that they will find deeper meaning in their day-to-day experiences. This process can be a very tricky experience especially when kids can tend to be self centered and demand attention all the time. Me and Reggie are one's who use self help tools in trying to put gratitude in our kids. We didn't know if they'd work but continued to implement the things that we've learned. Yesterday, I am happy to report that I heard my 1st "Thank you mom, I really appreciate you spending time and money on me" from Noa after having a fun packed day with her at the mall. It brought tears to my eyes as if was felt she lacked gratitude for the opportunities and extra things she gets. I didn't expect the kind gesture but was really excited to hear it come from her heart without me having to tell her to do so. It encouraged me to keep positive and keep using the tools that I've learned. Here are five personal things that we do to help our children to learn more gratitude.

1. Set the Example. Parents have to model behavior they hope their children adopt as their own. A simple, sincere expression of gratitude when the kids do something they were asked to do is always appropriate. Taking an extra moment to thank a sales clerk at the store or to tip your news carrier for getting the paper on the porch every day lets them know that gratitude is acceptable and encouraged.
2. Establish a Family Tradition. Family traditions are important in forming a habit in a child each year. A family tradition during the holidays will help impact a child's life in a positive way. For thanksgiving, teach your children to be thankful for their food, friends, home and family. During Christmas, we give our kids only two toys a piece. One educational toy and one fun toy. This teaches them to appreciate their items and not have a greedy spirit towards wanting a whole bunch of things. We sponser a family and allow them to shop for them and give to others.
3.Try Going Without. From time to time, have a family project that involves going without something important. For example, try making bread for a week rather than buying it, or try walking to any destination less than two miles away. A little sacrifice causes us to miss things that we take for granted and helps us be a little more humble and grateful when the thing is restored. We let them know that there's people who are homeless, jobless and starving in the world and that it's God's grace that we have the things that we have.
4. Don't Demand Thanks. "I work my fingers to the bone every day for you, and I never hear a word of thanks" was a popular litany in homes around the country. We try to avoid demanding thanks from your children with anger. They will internalize you showing them a good example of how to be thankful much more than they will threats or humiliation. If you offer it sincerely to them, they will learn the skills of gratitude. You can role play and show them how to be thankful for things.
5. The Word of God/Prayer. The bible has many scriptures on thanksgiving. Read to your children and teach them that the good book is God's law and promises for his people. Pray with your kids and in your prayers ask God to help them and yourself with gratitude and thanksgiving.

We still have a long road ahead of us with getting this gratitude in our hearts and our childrens hearts, but want to be a good example to them and raise them in the ways of God. They are not perfect but we like seeing little signs that it's getting in their hearts. God loves gratitude and therefore we need to ask for him to help us with it as we raise these precious kids.