How to Keep Kids Grateful During the Holidays

kids with Santa

Keeping kids grateful during the holidays is not difficult, but it does take consistent modeling and patience. So how do you keep kids grateful, especially when they are inundated with messages of greed and high expectations? It seems this would be a daunting task, as it involves changing your views, daily outlook and immediate reactions, but it is simple. By remembering your own manners and taking time to share you'll teach gratitude in effortless ways. And, it will last much longer than just the holiday season; the gratitude will last a lifetime.

Instructions

1. 

   Lead by example. Let your children catch you being grateful for what you've got and not always wanting more. Show them how you appreciate the small things, like a beautiful sunset or an afternoon at the park. Teach them how to appreciate the world that surrounds them. Make ordinary appear extra special, and extra special what it is, a treat and exception, not anything to take for granted or to expect.

2. Show your children how to pass it on. Take them to volunteer at a local shelter or stock shelves at a food bank. Have them join you when you donate household goods or participate in fund raisers. Ask your kids to go through their items and find three things in good condition they could part with and give to a child who needs them. Explain how some children don't have warm coats or stuffed animals to play with. Let your children know how fortunate they are and discuss why it's important to share with others.

3. 

   Focus on the joys of giving and talk about ways your kids can give gifts to others. Show them how to create homemade presents from items around the house. Teach them that not every gift has to cost lots of money. Let your kids know how much their thoughtfulness is appreciated and how grateful you are for them. Express your gratitude towards people and their actions or kind words, not their stuff.

4. Talk to your kids about being grateful. At the end of the day ask your children what they are grateful for. Help them recognize how many things in their life they have to appreciate, and how fortunate they are. Let them know it's all right to have stuff, and to enjoy their toys, but to remember those replaceable items are not the most important things they have. Make a game of it. Set a timer for three minutes and have each person make a list of things they are grateful for. When time's up, each person must cross off all replaceable items. The person who has the most left is the winner.

5. 

   Encourage your children to be generous. Talk about greed and selfish ways. Ask them for examples of greed and gratitude. Throughout the day, casually mention how fortunate you are because of your health, your ability to work, your family is nearby, an any other example that fits. As your children grow and mature they will appreciate the good things in life, and they will be grateful year round, not just during the holidays.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice showing your gratitude daily. It will soon become habit. Explain to children why you are grateful for what you've got. Expect gratitude from your children. Do not always buy your kids the biggest and the best. They will expect it and lose appreciation.

• If your children are greedy or selfish, nip it now. hose are qualities not becoming of anyone.