Understanding gratitude is a big skill that children should try to develop throughout their younger years. It gives them a sense of pride, a way of helping others with their own issues and how they can build their resilience skills as a result.
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Being grateful doesn’t come straight away however. Parents should aim to teach their child about the importance of gratitude and how it’ll help them grow. In this guide from an independent school in Surrey we discover what you can do to help your child explore gratitude.
Recognise moments to be grateful
It can be expressed gratitude for a good thing that’s happened recently, or even the roof over your heads. But it can also be small moments in your child’s life that they’re grateful for, like discovering a specific hobby or making friends with someone close to them. Identify these moments by discussing them openly with your child and reminding them of what they have.
Show your child how to perform acts of kindness to develop gratitude
Make your child see how small little acts can really make a person’s day. If they have a sibling for example, they may offer a toy to them to play with for a few days. Remind them of the effects saying “thank you” gives to any person they come into contact with, and show them how you thank others all the time in your life.
Make it clear to your child that they don’t need to only express gratitude to people they know. But that it can be used to thank or support people they come across through all walks of life.
Model gratitude at home
A child will follow a lot of what their parents will say and do. Which is the perfect opportunity for your child to learn about when they can be grateful around home. Say thank you to your child and help them find little things they can be thankful for.
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