Ways to Nurture Gratefulness in Children

I was super surprised to look back through MommyMaestra and discover that I don't have a post on gratefulness. This year has been a difficult one for my family - especially the last two months. In September, I brought my abuela home on Hospice so that I could care for her and so that she would not die surrounded by strangers who were paid to take care of her.

We celebrated her 93rd birthday here. And I watched as she declined both mentally and physically. This weekend, she passed away.

It was a HUGE lesson in compassion for my kids. And it taught my kids many other important lessons, including gratefulness. They learned to be grateful for family, love, and kindness. Thankful for the support and blessings we received while caring for her - especially from the Hospice provider who worked with us. Thankful for the friends who came to our rescue more than once.

Even though I have always tried to nurture gratefulness in my kids as they were growing up, since the teen years have come around, I've watched them really struggle with being grateful. Instead, I've seen self-criticism, doubt, and anxiety creep in. So while this may have been an extreme way to refocus them on being thankful, it was an opportunity none the less.

It's never too late to try and instill gratefulness in your children. Parents should set an example by always being thankful and encouraging children to give back and be aware of the good things they have been given.

A great way to practice gratitude is through giving thanks in your own life: pray, meditate, count blessings one-by-one, or simply take 10 minutes out of every day to think about those things for which you are grateful.

Teaching children the meaning of gratitude will help them find joy in everyday living and appreciate all they have been given. It will also help them to develop their emotional maturity and harness positive emotions.

Is Appreciation the Same as Gratitude?

There is often confusion regarding the two words "appreciation" and "gratitude." But in essence, they are both similar.

Here's how you can distinguish between the two:

Appreciation means to recognize or admire the positive qualities of someone or something. For example, if your child receives an A on their report card, you might let them know that you appreciate their hard work by congratulating them for doing well.

Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness. You might show appreciation as part of your gratitude. For example, if your child comes home with a report card and you ask them what grade they got, you might say, "I'm so grateful for your hard work. Thank you for always trying your best."

The two overlap in many ways, but essentially, if someone is showing heartfelt appreciation to you, it's because they are feeling grateful.

How Do I Make My Child More Grateful?

If you feel like your child is lacking in gratitude, there are numerous ways you can nurture it. 

Genuine gratitude is one of the most important virtues that people should practice daily. Still, it can be difficult for some people to find within themselves.

This could mean helping them thank someone who has helped them in the past or even taking a walk outside and thanking Mother Nature for all of her beautiful creations.

As a parent, one should make their child aware of these things and encourage them to be grateful for what they have been given, especially the seemingly small things.

Another great way to practice gratitude with your children is to create a welcoming and open environment for them to explore the world around them.

You can do this by always showing them how thankful you are, encouraging them to give back, and being aware of the good things that life has to offer. 

How Do You Nurture an Attitude of Gratitude?

Gratitude is an attitude that can be easily nurtured in children, but it needs to start at home.

Parents often wonder about the best way to teach gratitude to their children. This means coming up with ways to encourage thanking people for what they have done for them instead of getting more things.

Children are very good at taking what they have for granted, simply because it's something they've always had. If your child never knows any different, how do you get them to appreciate what they have?

It really starts by helping your child notice all the good things around them and talking about why having these things makes life better. 

Start small by helping them say thank you when someone does something nice. If your child is old enough, have them write a short note or draw a picture that can be given to someone in appreciation. 

When they receive something new, whether it's a toy or clothing item, encourage them not just to play with it but let them know how special it is because someone was thinking of them when they got it.

You might think that your child isn't capable of being grateful at such a young age, but you'd be surprised by what they can understand.

Here Are Some Great Activities to Nurture Gratefulness in Your Children

Sign Your Children up to Volunteer

Having your child volunteer in their community is a great way to encourage them to be grateful for the things they have.

The act of working with other people will also teach them how to work together and show them that there are always ways to help out others.

Have Your Children Practice Gratitude Daily

It can sometimes seem like a chore for your children to thank their grandparents, parents, teachers, etc., for all they have done. However, digging deep into everyday life will ensure your children never lose sight of the essential things in life.

There are many ways to do this. Here is just one: Even if it's just for a few minutes at night before bedtime, go over what you're grateful for and let your children tell you what they're feeling grateful for, too. 

You could also help your children to start to write in a gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a notebook where they can write down what they are feeling thankful for each day.

Here Are Some Great Books to Nurture Gratefulness in Your Children

It's never too late to try fostering gratefulness in your children. Some great books can help you do just that, and they're listed below.

Gratitude is My Superpower: A children’s book about Giving Thanks and Practicing Positivity by Alicia Ortego

The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving by Ellen Sabin

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp

(Also available in Spanish: Gracias Te Damos: Una Ofrenda de Los Nativos Americanos Al Amenecer de Cada Dìa)

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan Berenstain

The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

Nurturing gratitude in children is a quality that many people have a hard time with. It can be difficult to teach them how to find the good things in life and see the blessings they’ve been given because it takes practice, patience, and understanding.

If you want your child to grow up feeling grateful for what they have, make sure you model this behavior yourself by always being thankful and encouraging them of all their gifts as well as appreciating everything around you.

Although it may take some work at first, if done right, practicing gratitude will become second nature over time. So don't give up on teaching your child these important qualities! image source: © Can Stock Photo / Nikki24

Thanksgiving Tradition for Developing Gratitude and Giving

Meet Tom T. Gracias. He's a new addition to our home this year. I can't decide if he is cute or creepy (😂), but he's really growing on me so I'm guessing he's the former. I found him in Michaels last month, and although I didn't buy him right away, he kept popping into my head. I think it is because he is a creative take on a popular Thanksgiving activity: writing down what you're grateful for and then reading those things aloud on the actual holiday.

Tom (a name I totally made up) was actually created by the company Turkey on the Table (read more about them below). He's a hit with my family, and I don't just mean my kids. Even my nieces love him and write down what they are grateful for on a blank feather so they can add it to his tail. I mean, I don't even have to ask any of them to go write something down. They just see him and grab a feather and a pen.

I left him attached to the "board" he came with, but he'll easily stand alone on his big feet. He's a sturdy guy, which is good because he gets handled a lot as the kids try to attach his feathers. I chose to set him up way in advance of the holiday so that my kids would spend time thinking on a daily basis about those things for which they are grateful. I don't want them to just think about it once a year on Thanksgiving. So Tom may stay up for a while. 

He came with a small picture book that describes his purpose. You can read it to your young children - they'll love the illustrations and rhyming story. And he also came with a set of blank feathers and a permanent marker. But I'll be honest, I decided to use dry-erase pens so that the kids could correct any mistakes and so we could use the feathers again next year. But if you visit their website, Turkey on the Table offers a variety of feather styles and other accessories.

Oh! And one of the best parts of him is that he's multilingual. Ha! You can write on his feathers in whatever language you wish.

Part of why he caught my eye at the store is that the company has partnered with the nonprofit Feeding America. According to the company's website:

To date, over 1 million meals have been donated through the efforts of Turkey on the Table. For each Turkey on the Table® kit purchased, Turkey on the Table donates one dollar to Feeding America on your behalf, which in turn helps secure ten meals.

So in buying this turkey kit, I managed to double the difference I am making. And that means a lot to me. 

Although I bought Tom at my local Michaels, you can find out more about him on this website: turkeyonthetable.com.

Just so you know: This is not a sponsored post in any way. I stumbled upon this lovely product on my own and paid for him out of my pocket as a gift for my family. I love this activity so much, I wanted to share with you...

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

8 End-of-Year Teacher Gift Ideas

The school year is coming to an end! Honestly, I wouldn't mind if my kids would go year-round, but their teachers need a well-deserved break! They work very hard in the classroom and always end up doing school related work at home. Teachers need time to regroup, time to rest, and time to focus on next year. Yes, they even work summer hours.

So if you would like to show your appreciation, have your child take a little gift to Mr. or Mrs. to show their gratitude as the school days come to a close. It doesn't have to be expensive! Some schools allow parents to do group gifts and some people decide to make their own. You decide!

I pulled together 8 end-of-year gift ideas you can buy for your child's teacher with just a few clicks from your mouse.

1. Personal Stationery: 10 cards $15.90 You can't go wrong with a personalized gift like this. It's perfect for home or school and there are so many cute designs to choose from.

2. Ceramic Travel Mug: $12.95 This "double wall" ceramic mug is my personal favorite. The lid doesn't leak and nothing feels better than a real ceramic mug that travels well. 

3. Tote Bag: $28.00 Perfect for teacher's summer trips to the beach or a brand new bag for September. Totes have been reinvented and are much more stylish then ever before! Click HERE for another tote idea!

4. A Bestseller: $16.94 Teachers love students and parents who read for pleasure. Why not give one of your favorite books as a gift? A bestseller that everyone is talking about is such a great idea too. 

5. Summer Scarf: $14.99 A scarf is such a nice gift no matter what season we're in. Teachers love fun accessories as well. Here's a great one for male teachers! 

6. Small Charm: $26.00 We gave our oldest son's teacher one of these over the holidays. When my son sees her wear it, he notices and beams with pride! 

7. Personalized Gold Star Paperweight:  $20.00 A great gift for male and female teachers. Who doesn't need a good paperweight? Especially when children are around the teacher's desk all day long!

8. Class Photo Book: $8.00 and up For the second year in a row, our class has done a class yearbook for our teachers. Parents can submit their own pictures to the designated class parent who puts the book together. We have also added pictures of handwritten notes and illustrations the children create for their beloved teacher.

Do you have any other suggestions? Please share in the comments below!

Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com 

5 Ways to Teach Gratitude

The holidays are officially here! Halloween and Dia de los Muertos have passed and we now have beautiful new memories in our heads and loads of sweets we can't finish fast enough. Everywhere we look, we can't help but feel the pressure of the seasonal commercialism, and our kids start to make lists way too long for Santa to fully accommodate.

Now we are welcoming November with open arms and we focus on projects that remind our children to show gratitude. I think of how our family has been trying to teach our kids that thankfulness and gratitude is something we should show every day--all year long.

It is not easy to even hear a "thank you" from children in a consistent manner, and just like we teach other fundamentals over and over, practicing gratitude is just as important to reinforce. Here are five ideas to incorporate in your child's every day lives.

1) Write thank you notes. Every year, my boys receive birthday gifts, just-because presents and tons of books and clothes throughout the months. No matter who is sending a package or footing a bill, help your child give thanks by simply sending a little note. Mail always makes things more fun!

2) Go around the dinner table and describe your appreciation. Why wait for Thanksgiving? Every day whether it be at breakfast time or lunch time, children can get into a quick habit of thinking what made their day so special that it motivated them to say thanks.

3) Give. We always talk about the less fortunate. We always try to say yes to people asking for small donations and we explain to our oldest why we give. Simple tasks such as watching us donate old clothes and toys is a great way to teach kids to be thankful for the basics such as having warm clothes during this time of year.

4) Have kids help around the house. Just yesterday, I watched my almost three-year old son trying so hard to put his empty dinner dishes in the sink. He couldn't reach! He kept trying and trying but I wouldn't help because I knew he was safe and that if his task takes some effort, he will appreciate it greatly next time someone else helps him out.

5) Try not to say YES! We would love to give our kids every single thing they ask for...all the time. Who doesn't? I remember growing up and wanting the latest sneakers and my brother begging for a specific video game. My parents had to say no a lot because of their financial situation. When they did splurge on something small or big, we were very, very grateful.

What are some other ways we can teach gratitude at home? Please share!

Image: Viva Greetings

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Betty Galvan, is helping her readers "find the positive and seek the benefits" over at her blog, MyFriendBettySays.com.