Gratitude
What is it?
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and the readiness to show appreciation for kind actions by showing kindness in return.
Why is it important?
Through the practice of gratitude, children learn to consider and appreciate the goodness in the world and understand that they receive benefits from sources outside of themselves. Gratitude is a building block for developing an optimistic outlook.
School Connection
Your child will be learning that they can be grateful and thankful for many things and will practice expressing gratitude by using the terms “thank you” and “you’re welcome”.
How to Support Your Child at Home
Look for the Good!
Children at this age tend to think that the world revolves around them. This is totally normal. They need more support understanding the experience and experience and expression of gratitude. Prompt your child to connect experiences where they could be thankful to thankful actions and ways they could help other people.
Encourage your child to notice throughout the day things or people they are grateful for and brainstorm what to do to express appreciation in return.
- LOOK: I noticed that my sister put away all my toys for me.
- DO: I can say thank you or give her a hug.
- LOOK: I noticed that the cashier at the grocery store put all of my bags in my cart.
- DO: I can smile and say thank you.
Modeling the thought process of identifying what to be thankful for and an action to show thankfulness, helps children get in the habit of showing gratitude for little things each day.
