News from the Noteworthy from LEAF

Raising a Grateful Child Is Important

Giving your children the gift of gratitude can help to create a life that is more fulfilled and content as they grow. And, now that the holidays are upon us, this is the perfect time to either teach or reinforce the concept of gratitude.

Gratitude is more than just saying thank you, though that is an awesome first step. Believe me, when a young person says thank you spontaneously (without prompting), I am immediately aware of how special that is in today’s world. And, a simple thank you is an amazing way to start toddlers off with the concept of gratitude.

True gratitude is about finding ways to appreciate life’s gifts. Deeply instilled gratitude is about the emotional ability to identify ways to be thankful, even when times are tough. There is actually science behind it. But, for now, I’ll set that aside and just share some ways that parents and other adults can boost their child’s emotional wellbeing by embracing gratitude.

First, and most importantly, children learn gratitude by watching a grateful parent or caring adults. When kids see parents thanking each other, or when parents express gratitude for their children, it matters. It becomes just a way of life for the family. Grace at dinner, appreciation for completed chores, hugs that are “just because,” and consistent words that express thankfulness for each other are powerful ways that model gratitude.

Talk about things you are grateful for. We can all fall into the trap of allowing our frustrations to spill over into the home, complete with complaining in front of our children. I cast no judgement. This is being human. The trick here is to balance out those spoken frustrations with spoken gratitude. Talk about simple things that make you smile, that warm your heart, or that remind you to be grateful. Making those short, verbal gratitude lists sets the tone for the words that will come from your young ones.

Here are some potential gratitude activities you can do throughout the holiday season (and beyond) to reinforce gratitude. Remember to keep them age-appropriate. Very simple thank-you tasks for your littles and more complex concepts for elementary and beyond will keep these relevant.
1) Create a gratitude advent calendar, counting down the days. This can be as easy as a blank calendar hung on the fridge that you visit and fill in daily with your child(ren).

2) Go on a gratitude scavenger hunt. This can be in the house, around the house, or even a location that you go to. Have the kid(s) find and report things they are grateful for.

3) Start each meal time with an opportunity for everyone to share what they’re grateful for today.
4) Choose, as a family, to support a charity. This is a way to reinforce gratitude about having enough to share, no matter how small the gift.

You may wonder why a person who works in the field of addiction is writing an article on gratitude. In short, emotional regulation, being able to steady ourselves in the midst of emotional upset or stress, is a crucial skill in the prevention of addiction. Grateful people are much more likely to be able to cope effectively with negative emotions. That is a gift worth sharing with every child!

From all of us at LEAF, filled with gratitude for the joy of being able to do this work, we wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.

Julie Dostal is executive director of LEAF.