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Gratitude is a mindful practice that helps us focus on the positive elements of our lives rather than on the things we want or the things we would like to improve. It helps us live more optimistically and enables us to appreciate the little moments of happiness in life. To help you explore gratitude with your child, an independent school in Kent has shared their advice.
Have Them Pitch In
A lot of hard work goes into running a household, yet often parents find themselves letting their kids off the hook when it comes to helping out. It’s very easy for children to become complacent and develop a sense of entitlement, as they get used to everything being done for them. Having your child contribute towards household chores can help give them an insight into how much you do for them. Children are more likely to be respectful of their homes and grateful for the things they have if they have an appreciation for the hard work that goes into everything.
Put It Into Practice
Although it’s easy to think of gratitude as an abstract concept or as something a little bit wishy-washy, its possible (and important) to actively practice gratitude in our day to day lives. Putting pen to paper takes gratitude from being just an intangible thought and channels it into physical action. Encourage your child to note down things they have been grateful for each day, this mindful practice will give them a sense of wellbeing and focuses their attention on the positives. If they do this often enough they will soon form a habit for seeking out things to be grateful for, which can change their whole perspective.
Practice What You Preach
Sometimes venting feels like the best way to deal with a rough day and it can feel pretty cathartic to get it all off your chest. Expressing feelings is healthy, excessively ruminating over problems is not. It is important to be mindful about how much we find ourselves complaining in earshot of our children. Kids look to you as their guide for dealing with problems and will start to become pessimistic if that is the example that is set for them. It might take a little bit of self-awareness and practice in the beginning, but try to demonstrate resilience and optimism when things start to go wrong. Make sure to express your own gratitude for things and aim to create a culture of gratitude within your household.
