Gratitude is a quality that if possessed in a person,

helps to create peace and inner joy. Gratitude, peace, and inner joy are all things we want for our children. The value of teaching our children about gratitude should never be underestimated. By modeling thankfulness for our kids we are showing them the best way to measure joy and also cultivating our hearts. With Thanksgiving this month, it is the perfect time to begin practicing this attribute. Here are a few ways to cultivate a heart of gratitude this season.

Start and end your days with reasons to be grateful. Before starting any lessons for the day, sit with your children and ask them to tell you three things they are thankful for. Tell them three things you are grateful for. Do this again as you are tucking them in to bed at the end of each evening. Encourage older kiddos to keep a gratitude journal. Even just writing one thing they are grateful for each day. Younger kids can draw pictures instead!
Study a hymn or read books about thankfulness. A quick Google search will provide you with a ton of options! Or refer to the booklist in the Giving Thanks Workbook. Studying what it looks like to practice gratitude from a book, or focusing on the reasons we have to be thankful in a hymn are great ways to incorporate gratitude into everyday learning.
Volunteer or serve in an area your family feels passionate about. When you and your children practice serving others you will quickly notice the many blessings you have in your life that you may not have noticed before. The ability and experience of loving on others will make you feel grateful for the gifts and abilities you have that make it possible.
Bless a friend! Do you know a mom who is having a hard week and could use a random coffee treat today? Go grab it, and take your kiddo with you! Is there a family going through a hard season? Make them a meal and invite your children to help prepare it, and make a card to go with it when you drop it off. When we invite our children alongside us as we bless others, it helps cultivate that same spirit within them.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude takes practice, our minds tend to lean to the negative. However, when we focus on our blessings we experience contentment and joy. This contentment and joy become contagious and encourage thankfulness!

- Dani