Tuesday, November 6, 2012

An Attitude of Gratitude

"I am thankful for my socks."

So said my daughter when pressed to come up with something that she was thankful for, besides her baby dolls and her beloved "lamby".

Even very young children can begin to develop an attitude of gratitude. An easy way to start is by asking what they like, or what they are glad about. This will most likely be physical items (especially toys!) until about age four.

By age five children can relate to the concept of appreciating family members, teachers, and friends. At about this age, we started asking our daughter what three things she was thankful for that day as part of our bedtime routine. This has become a treasured part of our day, and, as a bonus, gives me a regular barometer for what matters most to her. It has also created some teachable moments for discussing the value of relationships over "stuff".

Remember to continue adding to your "jars" that we talked about yesterday, and create a attitude of gratitude in your child.

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