Teaching children about gratitude
Gratitude opens the heart and increases joy. It is a highly beneficial practice to teach your children, boosting their creativity and balance. Albert Einstein said, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.”
In parenting and in teaching your children gratitude, children learn from your example rather than from your words, no matter how wise. When your child asks you to buy him another video game, saying, “You should be grateful for the 10 video games that you already have” is not going to inspire gratitude.
Instead, what he observes you doing each day will. Begin by noticing helpfulness and thanking people for it. For example: “I am grateful that you noticed how thirsty I was when I was working in the yard yesterday. Thank you for bringing me water.”
Thank your family. Thank friends. Thank strangers.
Pressured to buy more video games? Consider these suggestions:
Acknowledge their desire. For example, “You really love to play video games.” This will honor your child’s desires, and it will assist you in avoiding judgment and criticism. He will hear you, and you will be in a much more flexible, creative state of mind.
Establish clear limits by saying, “I am not willing to buy another video game.”
Offer alternatives that teach responsibility, such as, “How can you earn the money to buy it yourself ?” or “Would you be willing to sell several of your old games to buy this new one?”
Maggie Macaulay, M.S. Ed., is the owner of Whole Hearted Parenting, offering coaching, courses and workshops. Call 954-483-8021 or visit www.WholeHeartedParenting.com. Send her am email at Maggie@WholeHeartedParenting.com.