Raising Grateful Kids : Thoughts on Thanksgiving Monday

Thanksgiving is a holiday that evokes so many positive memories and emotions in me. In our home growing up (and still today!), my mom sets up a long table in her dining room and the whole family is invited, each bringing a delicious side dish to share. There are no rules on how much we are allowed to eat on Thanksgiving. The more, the merrier! And, laughter and good conversation is as enjoyable as the food we are consuming. We always take an opportunity to reflect on our blessings and by doing this we are cultivating contentment. 

Raising up grateful kids doesn’t just happen by talking about what we are thankful for on Thanksgiving. Cultivating gratitude is a daily intentional act, one small win after another, that fosters a deep sense of contentment and joy in our children from a young age and into adulthood. Today I’m sharing 5 simple ways to cultivate gratitude in our kids.

1. Everyone contributes around the home

Providing our kids with responsibilities at home allows them to experience what it takes to keep a home organized and functioning for the whole family. Running a home is a group effort and everyone who contributes will not take things (or people) for granted!

    • Include a 10 minute power burst in the evening, where everyone is responsible for tidying up spaces around the home before bed
    • Set up a chore chart for your kids and include tasks like setting and clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, making their bed, feeding the pet or putting away laundry
    • Teach your children to pick up after themselves before starting a new activity

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Brene Brown

2. Daily intentional conversation

It is so easy to focus on the difficult parts of our day and get caught up in negative talk. By recognizing the hard things but choosing to focus on the positive in all circumstances, gratitude becomes part of your family culture. Deciding to offer grace and be quick to apologize, teaches our kids valuable life skills and frees them up to live a joy filled life.

    • Teach by example 
    • Be quick to apologize and offer grace
    • Give thanks for things, people and circumstances daily in front of your kids! Encourage them to tell you what they are thankful for.

“Gratitude helps you to fall in love with the life you already have.” Kristen Hewitt

3. Remember to fill your own tank and practice gratitude

Parents, the truth is that we have a lot on our mind on a daily basis. The worries of this world can weigh heavily and affect our outlook on life and impact how we parent. If you are constantly feeling irritated, overwhelmed and “stretched to the max”, try adding these practices into your life:

    • Wake up earlier than the kids and do something that you love each morning. Even having a few minutes of solitude with a hot coffee in hand can set up your day for success!
    • Read scripture: be encouraged and get fresh perspective on your circumstances
    • Include daily prayer or meditation in your day: silence your thoughts, breath deeply and intentionally focus on all you have to be thankful for

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

4. Encourage and highlight each other’s strengths

It is so important to speak life into your kids and spouse on a regular basis. One great way to do this is to take some time during dinner when everyone is together to be intentional about your conversation. Give everyone a chance to share openly about their day (the good and the bad!) and then look for ways to encourage one another.

    • Create a safe space as family members share about their day around the dinner table 
    • Share about your own weaknesses and how you have worked through them: these are such valuable life lessons for our kids
    • Being vulnerable shows our kids that we are human and struggle at times too. We provide our kids with tangible opportunities to encourage, uplift and spread joy! 

“Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage and confidence.” Og Mandino

5. Serve others

One of the best ways to cultivate gratitude in our kids is to remove them from their own bubble and provide them with opportunities to serve others!

    • serving others shifts the focus off of ourselves
    • our own worries and blessings are put in perspective by meeting the needs of others
    • some great ideas on how kids can serve others: rake an elderly neighbours leaves or shovel their sidewalk, volunteer at church or at a local charity, invite someone in need of company over for dinner (with parents permission!)

“Be that kind soul that makes everybody feel like a somebody.”

Sharing is caring! I’d love for you to PIN this image if you enjoyed this post!

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” Epicurus

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family! I’d love to hear how you cultivate gratitude in your home. Please share your ideas below!