From the conception of your kids, as a parent have done everything you can to provide only the best for your children. You provide them with hot healthy meals, a roof over their heads, good education, clothes and toys and anything else your child might desire. And although providing for your child is your job as parent, your little one must learn to be grateful for all the things you do for them and all the sacrifices you make in the process. Learning the skill of gratitude is an important life lesson. Without it your children will grow up to be entitled and ungrateful which can be detrimental to their social and professional lives. So, how do you teach your kids to not take everything for granted? Read on to know a few tips!
1. Become Their Role Model
Your children are going to start feeling grateful for everything you do for them when they respect you and the decisions you make. This is why it is important for parents to set an example of a respectable and responsible adult. Someone they can look up to and admire. Keep in mind that kids mostly learn through observation. So if you want them to be more grateful, start by showing your gratitude towards your own parents or the people in your community. Set the example and they will follow.
2. Teach Your Kids Empathy
You should educate your children about how their actions can affect others. This can be achieved by discussing instances where something they said may have hurt you or given the impression of ingratitude. It’s important for your kids to understand that, even if they didn’t receive the exact toy they wished for on Christmas, you still made an effort to choose something they would enjoy. Additionally, you can use examples from books and movies to instill empathy in them. Encourage them to consider how the words and actions of characters in stories might have made others feel. Ask questions like, “What that boy said seemed very hurtful. How do you think his mom felt?” This approach not only helps your child identify and express emotions but also encourages them to be mindful of how they come across, avoiding appearing selfish or ungrateful for the things they have.
3. Point Out Their Ungrateful Attitude
No parent wishes to hurt their child’s feelings, but as a responsible parent, it is your duty to guide them, especially when they are clearly in the wrong. Responding with entitlement and ingratitude is never the appropriate behavior. If this approach seems too stern, remember that you, as their parent, may pardon their behavior, but the rest of the world will not be as forgiving, and the repercussions for selfishness and thoughtlessness can be severe. However, there’s a way to address your child’s ungratefulness without directly insulting them. Be specific and objective in your approach. For instance, if your child frequently complains about not receiving enough birthday presents, help them understand that gifts involve expenses and that people put thought into selecting something for them. If they only seem to value limited-edition items, demonstrate the effort it takes to obtain the things they already possess. By consistently highlighting their ungrateful attitude, they will begin to take notice. Just be sure that you’re not shaming them in the process. Children are not unreasonable. When you repeatedly explain situations to them, they start to comprehend and gradually learn to appreciate what they have.
4. Teach Your Kids To Always Return A Favor
This doesn’t mean that you teach your kids to only be nice to those who do nice things for them. Teach your kids instead to be the first ones to offer to do something nice for someone else, especially if they are in need. Let them experience the joy of giving to someone in need, someone who cares for them or someone who has helped them out in the past. When they learn to lend a helping hand or return a favor, they practice more gratitude. You can do this by helping them donate clothes and toys they seldom use to charity. They can gift wrap them and hand them out to other kids themselves. They can also learn to pick out presents for their siblings or relatives when you go shopping for the holidays.
5. Delay Their Gratification
Your child will learn how to be grateful when you make them work for it. You can have a reward system where they earn points for a play station they really want. Or you could ask them to wait till their birthday to receive their dreamhouse. Whatever the case may be, not satisfying their wants instantaneously helps them appreciate the things they get even more.
Teaching your kids the lesson of gratitude is an important part of life. We’re sure that with these new tips your little one will learn to be grateful for everything you do or buy for them. Happy parenting!