Having a thankful attitude is a wonderful character quality that can help steer the course of a child’s life in the right direction. This is why it’s so important for us to teach thankfulness to our children. And at this time of year, especially, parents hope to see this quality developing in their children.
But have you noticed that children are not always grateful for the things their parents do for them? Of course, we understand that young children don’t comprehend the effort their parents make to provide for their needs and give them the best they can afford. We don’t expect them to. But as they grow in their understanding, we want to see evidence of this character trait in their lives that will help them in all their relationships.
While it’s true that some children tend to be thoughtful and appreciative naturally— most children need to be taught to be thankful. Here are five suggestions that can help you cultivate thankfulness in your children.
1. Begin by being thankful yourself—and expressing your thanks to others. There are many ways to say thank you; verbally, with a hug, a big smile, a thank you card, a phone call, spending time with someone, or an act of kindness.
If you are a Sunday school teacher, have your class write thank you notes to the people who work in your church; your pastors, musicians, ushers, maintenance staff, nursery workers, office workers, missionaries, teachers, and anybody who helps in the church that you think the children should thank.
2. Teach your children to be thankful for their Christian heritage, and their American heritage. Tell them stories about the sacrifices of courageous men and women of years gone by. Teach them history, and visit museums and monuments where they can see and touch real things that represent the foundation of our country.
3. Involve your children in the process of gift giving. On occasion, let them shop with you so they can become more aware of other people’s needs as they look with you for just the right gift. They will learn to appreciate the task of shopping when you let them experience it too!
4. Help children make gifts for others. This need not be a big project. It can be as simple as a drawing or painting, a card, a bookmark, or homemade cookies. Children will experience the joy of giving as they participate in the practical aspects of giving to others. Even letting them wrap presents will give them a sense of anticipation and joy.
5. Most importantly, remember to instill an attitude of praise and thankfulness to God in your home. Thankfulness can be both “taught and caught.” Give thanks at every meal, and in your daily conversation talk about the things you are thankful for. A good Scripture for children to learn on thanksgiving is found in Psalm 100. Even little children can memorize parts of this Psalm, and learning it can help cultivate an atmosphere of thankfulness in your home.
…Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
May God bless you today!
Verda
