Effortless Technique to Instill Appreciation in Children
Embracing kindness and gratitude isn't just about telling the kids to share and be polite; it's a daily commitment that adds up, making it an effortless part of your life. In our household, we adopted the notion of daily acts of kindness after a transformative Christmas experience with random acts of kindness. This practice not only helped us slow down and bond as a family but also provided a valuable respite during a hectic season.
Instead of rushing through the holiday season, we decided to intentionally focus on gratitude. A Facebook follower suggested a "30 Days of Gratitude" challenge, which we enthusiastically embraced. It's easy for thankfulness to get lost in the shuffle of the holidays, so I created a printable to help families teach their children to be grateful.
Simply download and print a copy for each family member or classroom participant, and encourage them to fill it out daily for 30 days. While it's great to make a list of all the things you are grateful for, writing something down each day has a more significant impact on your life. The printable doesn't follow a calendar format, so it's okay if life gets in the way and some days are skipped – just pick up where you left off when you remember.
In the midst of upcoming moves and school events, we're excited to embark on a 30 days of gratitude journey with our kids. This exercise not only serves as a reminder of what truly matters but also offers a sneaky opportunity for authentic writing practice for the kids.
If you find teaching kids to be grateful a meaningful endeavor, be sure to check out our "Random Acts of Christmas Kindness calendar"!
Sources: [1] Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389. [2] Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster. [3] Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2008). A functional analysis of gratitude: Emotion, cognition, behavior, context, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(5), 1015-1038. [4] Froh, J. J., Seed, P., & Kashdan, T. B. (2008). Gratitude as a human strength: Appraisal and utility[J]. Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 217-226. [5] Watkins, P. C., & Mahoney, J. R. (2011). The science of gratitude and its implications for health[J]. Current Psychology, 30(4), 313-320.
Acts of kindness and gratitude can be integrated into a family's lifestyle as a daily commitment, helping in slowing down and bonding as a unit. The family-dynamics have found immense value in a "30 Days of Gratitude" challenge, as it serves as a reminder of what truly matters while providing a sneaky opportunity for authentic writing practice and personal-growth for children. Embracing this gratitude exercise, alongside school events and upcoming moves, promises to be both educational and self-developmental.
