Ahhh... My favorite time of the year! I have always loved December and Christmas! A time for sharing, teaching children about giving and service. We also teach them to think of others and about kindness! I LOVE this!
I believe it is also a good time to teach our children about gratitude. In a world of instant gratification, it is easy for a child to forget to be thankful for what they have and receive. We need to step back in time when it comes to gratitude. Let me give you a few suggestions.
- take time to write thank you cards
- take time to make a phone call to thank those not present at the moment
- send an email with a special thank you from your child
- say thank you when receiving a gift
- talk with them about the importance of a simple thank you and being grateful
- model gratitude
- say "you're welcome". ( our society is forgetting this piece. You will hear "no problem" or something similar. Teach children and remember yourself to say "you're welcome".
- if it is gift they may not appreciate or like, teach them how to say thank you in a polite way.
Saying thank you seems simple, but it doesn't come naturally for most children. However, gratitude and saying thank you will come naturally when it becomes a habit. Make it a habit in your family!
Merry Christmas (Happy whatever you celebrate) and THANK YOU 😉 for being a part of the Parenting Piece family!
Laurie and Christie
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