Gratitude - Gratitude for Kids

Studies have proven that gratitude for kids results in happier children.

After all, gratitude is a great attitude, and it makes total sense that teaching your children about gratitude has a positive impact.

Some believe that children must be a few years old before understanding gratitude.

Others say that children recognise a parent’s voice when they are born because they hear familiar voices while developing in the womb.

Therefore, I wonder at what stage the conscious mind kicks in – it’s all a magical mystery.

Sharing

Teaching children about gratitude from the moment they are born is not only possible, but it’s also beneficial. It’s never too early to start.

Newborns are spoken to immediately. They are told ‘I love you’, ‘You’re so cute’, ‘You are gorgeous’, and much more.

Gratitude can be taught by sharing with them things they could be grateful for.

For example, ‘I bet you’re so grateful that you are no longer hungry’ or ‘I know you’re grateful for having a warm bed to sleep in’.

You get the gist.

Once children learn to talk, they can learn courtesy and gratitude by saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ at the appropriate time.

Studies

In 2017, a study by Renshaw and Hindman found that simply asking your child to name three things they were grateful for that day resulted in higher gratitude and overall well-being.

A different study eight years earlier found that children and adolescents considered low in having a positive attitude benefitted from a ‘gratitude intervention’.

Positives & Negatives

Gratitude, and every other character trait I share with you, has many beneficial positives.

The positive impacts of teaching gratitude include mental health, emotional state, self-confidence and resilience.

As always, there are adverse effects if people are too kind, generous, trusting, or anything else. Setting boundaries is where balance and moderation come in. Always know and have boundaries.

You remove yourself from the picture when you overstep the boundaries or allow someone else to.

You are no longer kind or generous to yourself.

Be mindful of that.

Finally – what are you grateful for today? Ask your kids that question and let them know your answer, too.