Learning to be thankful helps daycare children develop critical thinking skills, and shows them how thankfulness and gratitude make everyone feel a little better about themselves and others. Learning about gratitude is an everyday trait of Montessori schools, but it is also important that parents help children practice gratitude at home so that they understand it is not reserved for the classroom but is instead a fact of everyday life.
Keep a journal or wall collage where your daycare children can create mementos of things they are grateful for. Every day has something that fits the bill, even if it is something as simple as a sunny day or having a favorite food for dinner. As the list of things they sincerely appreciate begins to grow, children will become more involved in tallying the high points of each day and showing their gratefulness in new and beneficial ways. 2. What We Have Vs What We Want It is important for children to learn that they can't always get things exactly the way they want them to be, and every instance is an opportunity to focus on what they have instead of pining for what they want. Stuck inside on a rainy day? At least there are some great activities to get involved with. The outdoor party got rained out? At least there was ice cream and cake when everyone scrambled inside. There is an upside to every event and children should learn to see those good things more often than to focus on the bad. 3. Role Modeling Grateful Behaviors Parents are the best role models their children will have, without comparison. When children see their role models exhibiting grateful behavior they learn that gratefulness is an important way to show appreciation. Keep in mind that your behavior should be consistent, because children may be learning, but they are always watching, and if they see your gratefulness as a pretentious act they will begin to doubt its usefulness. 4. Appreciation and Self-Esteem When we learn to value what we have, it makes us feel better about ourselves. As simple as it is to say "thank you," doing so conveys goodwill to both parties, and encourages young children to use gratitude appropriately in their interactions with others. Talk to the teachers at your child's daycare. Ask them how they teach gratitude and then mimic those ideas at home. Montessori education, especially modeling important social skills, does not end with the school day. Parents are strongly encouraged to practice the Montessori Method at home as well, including core concepts like grace and courtesy.
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