How to Help Your Kids Have an Attitude of Gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude is something that is very important in my life. It’s also something I’ve worked to instill in my kids. I’ve talked before about how gratitude can help families in sports: “Let Gratitude Carry You through the Competition Season.” Of course, gratitude isn’t just for sports families … an attitude of gratitude can help any kids and any families.

Ann Voskamp, the author of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, wrote a great post this week called “How to {help} Raise Grateful Kids.”

Ann Voskamp’s suggestions to help raise grateful kids:

• Pass around flower-shaped sticky notes once daily for everyone to write what they’re grateful for. Stick the flowers on the window.
• Sing around the table.
• Write out daily more of 1000 gifts or fill out the “7 Gifts” page. (In the updated “15 Happy Ways to Raise Kids to Be Grateful” post, there’s a link to a free printable with spaces for 7 gifts each day.)
• Write thank-you notes. Have a basket of thank-you notes left out as an invitation to give thanks.
• Have your child put a sticky note on a mirror telling what he or she is grateful for right now.

How kids benefit from an attitude of gratitude (found through research and listed in Ann Voskamp’s post):

• Better attitudes
• More likely to achieve personal goals
• Closer relationships and greater happiness
• Better grades
• Greater energy, attentiveness, and enthusiasm
• Greater sensitivity to situations where they can be helpful and compassionate

Ann also had a link to a helpful YouTube video of an interview with Dr. Christine Carter from the Greater Good Science Center.

Some of my favorite points from the video “Change Your Kids’ Attitude With Gratitude”:

Happiness is in many respects a skill that parents can teach their children, and the relationship between gratitude and happiness is really strong. – Greater Good Science Center’s Dr. Christine Carter

Christine Carter talks about giving kids a lens through gratitude glasses.

She recommends practicing gratitude daily or even once a week through activities such as the following:

• Keep a gratitude journal.
• Keep a family gratitude list (post it on the refrigerator).
• Go around the table and have each person say something they’re grateful for.
• When you put your kids to bed, have them tell you three good things that happened to them or that they did during the day.
• Write gratitude letters (letters to someone who has done something for your child that has gone unthanked).

Christine Carter says that people who practice gratitude become more helpful and feel happier, stronger, more energized, and more determined.

Here are some links to other ideas that can help your kids have an attitude of gratitude. Just choose whatever gratitude activities work best for your family.

• Montessori Gratitude Jar
• The Blessing Jar from I Can Teach My Child
• Gratitude Board from Make a Vision Board
• Garland of Gratitude from Family Fun (garland shape could vary according to the season)
• Blessing Bowl from Jennifer Janes at the Homeschool Village
• Gratitude Tree (ideas from My Insanity, Gracious Rain, and Show Me Crafts)

“Gratitude is the Best Attitude” Word-Art Freebie (without watermark)

UPDATE: 11/17/2011 I have a post with links to many more resources: How to Help Your Kids Have an Attitude of Gratitude, Part 2.

Do you have a favorite way to help your kids have an attitude of gratitude?

Photo Credit: Photo at top of post by mtsofan/John at Flickr Creative Commons.

Added to Its Own Sweet Will.