Does your child beg or whine for toys?
Does he or she get upset if “Santa” doesn’t bring all of the
toys on his/her list?
Do you cringe when your child doesn’t show appreciation when
someone gives them a gift? Or worse, he/she says something like, “It’s another
stupid, ugly sweater from Grandma!”
The holidays are a perfect time to teach your child about
gratitude! Showing gratitude is more
than just good manners; there are many benefits. In fact, recent studies have shown that
children who express gratitude have higher grades, better self esteem, more positive
relationships, and were all around healthier. Considered a pioneer in gratitude
studies, Jeffrey Froh, PsyD with Hofstra University, conducted a survey with
more than 1,200 kids between the ages of 8 and 18. The children who were more
grateful for what they already had were more generous and less materialistic.
Toddlers are generally very egocentric … they think the
world revolves around them! However,
children can begin to understand the concept of gratitude between the ages of
15 and 18 months. By the time children
are two or three they may appreciate specific objects, pets, and people. By age four, they can not only be thankful
for objects such as toys, but for also feelings like love and kindness.
Where can you begin? Froh
points out that “The first step in changing kids’ behavior is being a good role
model.” Even something simple like
saying “Thank you” will reinforce positive behavior. Below are a few more tips.
·
Discuss or write down what you’re grateful for
on a regular basis. Try sharing what
everyone is grateful for during a family meal or during evening prayers.
·
Get into the habit of writing thank you notes
when your receive gifts or favors. If
your child is too young to write, have them dictate to you what they want to
say and include a picture they drew or colored.
·
Practice giving to others who may be less
fortunate. Take the whole family to
volunteer at a homeless shelter, or give gently used toys and clothes to a
charity. A less daunting task could be
to make soup or shovel the sidewalk for a sick neighbor.
·
Have your children help with household
chores. They may appreciate you more once
they help clear dirty dishes from the table, feed the animals, or help rake
leaves. They will also understand that
keeping a nice home takes time and energy and should be a family effort.
At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare we’re “Changing the
world, one child at a time!” Our
teachers focus their lessons on experience-based learning, which addresses the
individual growth, potential and strengths of your child. Contact us to
schedule a tour of our center!
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