Exploring Gratitude with Your Child

Showing gratitude is not only polite but it can go a long way with children in the development of their confidence and sense of self. This is because of how the words thank you and appreciative gestures make us feel. They bring us closer to those around us. It has actually been reported that children who exercise gratitude are happier and perform better in school as a result. If you would like some ideas on how you can explore gratitude with your child, take a look at the ones below that were shared with us by a prep school in Surrey.

Each time that your child feels loved and grateful, capture the moments in a jar by writing them down on paper. There are so many things that we have to be grateful for which we don’t even realise. You can take a moment to ask your child to write them down and enter them into the jar too. This will grow over time and act as a reminder of how loved and lucky they are for the things in their life.

Thank you cards have a sentimental value and can really make others feel special. When on the receiving end of a nice gesture, encourage your child to make one. They are easy enough to make and show a lot of thought. 

When we receive an act of kindness, it’s nice to keep the flow and return the favour. It helps to establish mutually beneficial connections and strong friendships. This is something that they can do by paying attention to others’ needs. 

Meditation can help to relieve stress and make us feel calm and grounded. You can use it as an opportunity to exercise gratitude with your child. Do this by getting them to think about the things and people that they have to be thankful for. This exercise can help them to remember that they are loved and appreciated.

The dinner table is a nice place to catch up on the events of a day. It also gives you the opportunity to show your child that you’re interested and invested in their life. In many households there is even a tradition where they say grace and reflect on what they have to be thankful for.