How to Teach Your Kids to be Thankful this Year

Kids can be selfish, but it is in their nature to behave in that way. If you, like most parents, want to train your children to behave in a gracious and thankful way starting this year, then follow the steps outlined below, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Locate a food bank near home, and sign yourself and your children up to help serve food to the homeless.

2. Talk to your children before you go to the food bank about why these people need our love and our help all times of the year, and especially now when it is so cold and so hard to live on the streets.

3. Be an active volunteer with your children. Express enthusiasm for the job you are doing, and empathy for anyone you come in contact with.

4. Talk to your children afterward about what volunteering meant to them, and how it made them feel. Ask if they noticed or talked to anyone in particular, and talk to them about how an innocent family might end up on the streets.

5. Make a list with your children of all of the things that they can be thankful for. Make it a game instead of a task. For example, compete for the longest list or the most things to be thankful for that start with the letter "p". Get silly and creative - the lesson will stick better that way.

6. Talk about thankfulness over dinner, and perhaps plan another volunteering session with the whole family.

Tips & Warnings

• Come up with your own list, and you might teach YOURSELF something about thankfulness, too.
• Do not grumble or show reluctance while volunteering. No one will appreciate your attitude, and your children will see that it is not a desirable way to spend their time.

[lilangel58]

on 11/25/2008 Very good ideas! Thanks! 5 stars!

[Psalmist4M]

on 11/24/2008 Wonderful article. I really appreciate this. Also well written and helpful. 5*s cherylgoff.com