Children begin learning about gratitude as soon as they develop awareness that they rely on others to care for them. They might not understand what it means to be grateful, but even in their early years, they become familiar with the concept when they realize they depend on others for their well-being and favors. Teaching children to be conscious about gratitude is tricky because true gratitude involves more than saying “thank you.” The Montessori preschool in Winnetka engages preschoolers in their learning of gratitude by building their awareness of self, community, and courtesy.
There isn’t a “right” time to teach gratitude because it’s a part of daily life, and your preschooler can learn about it at nearly any time. Act as a model for gratitude Children look up to their parents as behavioral models. If they witness you showing acts of gratitude throughout the day, they’ll incorporate that into their behavior. Thank your child when they help you out, and tell them why you’re thanking them. If they helped clean a mess you made, thank them for helping you shorten the cleaning time. Even if your thanks aren’t empty, giving a reason helps teach why you give gratitude. Other ways to model gratitude include making a certain time of the day “Thanking Time.” Before dinner, your family could go around the table and share one thing they’re thankful for from the day. You could also have your kids participate in donation drives, encouraging them to reflect on their gratitude and generosity. Whenever your kids receive gifts or big favors, have them make Thank You cards or notes, and while they craft, ask them questions about the importance of giving thanks. Ask children how they feel about their experiences of gratitude A study about children and gratitude by UNC Chapel Hill found that parents neglect to ask children how they feel about receiving a gift. 85% of parents focus on teaching children what to do to express gratitude, whereas about 33% of parents ask children how they feel, and only 22% ask children why they think they received a gift. So instead of focusing on the external aspects of gratitude, parents should put equal focus on the internal aspects, which will help children deeply understand gratitude and grow into more empathetic people. The UNC Chapel Hill study concluded that there are four parts to an experience of gratitude: Notice, Think, Feel, and Do. Here’s how you can walk your child through it:
The four-step process helps children think more deeply about gratitude, and turn a simple act of giving thanks into something more meaningful. Comments are closed.
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