Of course, as a parent you want to treat your child and give them the best but it’s important to consider the life lessons that it will instil. You don’t want to undermine the virtue of hard work and patience. They will help them in developing gratitude and being appreciative for what they have. In this post we outline the ways in which you can explore gratitude with children.
This post is in collaboration with a pre prep school in Hampton.
The Bigger Picture
When you consider what’s going on in the world, it really makes you feel grateful for the things that you have. Friends, family, food, and shelter. Things that seem basic which many have to go without. When you think about it, we have blessings all around us. You can volunteer to help out the less fortunate and talk about these issues with your child so that they are able to gain perspective of how lucky they are.
Thank You Letters
Another activity that you can do involves writing out letters or thank you notes for those that they are grateful for – like their teachers, friends, and family. Handwritten letters seem more sincere, heartfelt and can really make someone feel special. As well as having the opportunity to reflect and practise gratitude, children can strengthen their relationships with those around them by making them feel valued and appreciated.
A Gratitude Jar
You can also create a gratitude jar for them to fill. Every day they will need to reflect on what they were grateful for and enclose it within the jar. Taking the time to do this will help them to feel happier within themselves, loved and increase their confidence.
Meditation
There are also ways of expressing gratitude in private. They can take time to meditate and think about the lovely things they’ve received and who they are thankful for.
