Gratitude is a life skill that every kid should learn. Whether you practice gratitude during the holiday season or all year round, we wanted to help you with some ideas to make sure that gratitude becomes a vital part of your family unit.
Below we’re showing some unique ways that you can easily include gratitude with your kids regularly. Whether it’s having a journal for each family member, a gratitude box, or simply expressing gratitude to those who help you out during the year, this expression is something that helps make the world a more positive place.
Daily Share
Put a bulletin board up in the family room with small note pieces of notepaper and some pens. Have every family member write a daily gratitude note to place on the board. This is an excellent way to help each family member feel appreciated and helps place focus on what you have in life as a family rather than what you don’t have.
Get a Gratitude Journal
Every family member, including the kids, should have a gratitude journal. This journal can be stored on the nightstand next to each family member’s bed. Start a practice that each family member writes the date, and at least two things they’re grateful for that day. This will help encourage your family to feel more positive about their daily life as they focus on the things to be grateful for before bedtime.
Volunteer Together
It’s especially important to volunteer at a local food pantry or shelter during the holiday season. This is the time of year when many homeless people and homeless animals are searching for connection. Try to make volunteering an annual tradition with your family so that you can see how the less fortunate live and help them feel some happiness during a lonely time of the year.
Gratitude Jar
Much like the daily gratitude bulletin board, you can have a gratitude jar. This works similarly to the board, however, family members don’t have to put a note in every day. Instead of a daily gratitude note, your family will jot down something they’re grateful for throughout the week placing as many square notes in the jar as possible. At the end of the week, the family takes turns reading all of these anonymous notes out loud at dinner time.
Practicing gratitude is a fabulous way to teach your kids to be outgoing, well-rounded, kind adults when they venture out into the world. Not only is this an important life skill to teach your kids, but it will help create a positive home environment for your family that will last a lifetime.