Raising Grateful Kids: Practical Ways to Foster Gratitude in Children

eing grateful is a deeper exercise than simply being thankful. When you are grateful, you are acknowledging the good in your life, even when life isn’t going the way you want it to. You are recognizing that there is still beauty and goodness to be found, even in tough times. Gratitude allows us to appreciate what we have, instead of always longing for something more.

Gratitude has been shown to have many benefits for our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that grateful people are happier, less stressed, and more likely to take care of their health. They also sleep better and have stronger immune systems.

One way to become more grateful is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down three things you are grateful for. It can be something small, like a good cup of coffee, or something bigger, like your health or a loving relationship. Focusing on the positive each day can help you see the good in your life even when times are tough.

But being grateful is not just about reflecting on the good things in your life. It’s also about taking action to make the world a better place. When you are grateful, you are more likely to help others and pay it forward. Gratitude can make you a kinder, more compassionate person, and that can have a ripple effect on the world around you.

So I started a grateful exercise with my son a couple of months back, every night before sleeping we sit down and talk about 3 things that made us happy that day. But slowly I realized that though he was doing it, he was not involved in it emotionally. So I started asking him WHY he was happy about those things and that’s when it all changed!

Like last time he mentioned that he is grateful for the chocolate he received from his friends, and I asked him why, but he was unable to answer also for him being grateful was being thankful for the materialistic things he received, but he was not thankful for what he had or things that happened to him during the day.

I asked him to start noticing emotions he felt during the day, and things he did that made him feel good. I asked him to notice feelings that made him really good emotionally like when someone helps him when he helps someone, when his friends play with him nicely, or when he shares his toys with others.

Yesterday he mentioned that he was grateful that his aunt saved his favorite food for him while he was out playing with his friends, and I asked him why, he said because he was really hungry and she knew that so she saved it for him. I asked him what gesture she showed by saving his favorite food for him when he was not even there to ask for it, and he was unable to think of anything, then I prompted him by saying that she showed him that she cared for him, and he immediately said yes! And I told him that this is what being grateful is, when we appreciate things people do for us which might be small or big because it shows that they care.

I asked him how did this make him feel, and he said it made him feel loved. I asked him if he said thank you to her to which he said no, and I asked him why, he said because he thought she would know that he is thankful to her. I told him that it’s always good to say thank you when someone does something for us because it shows our appreciation. So today morning as soon as his aunt came, he went up to her and said thank you for saving my favorite food for me, I was really hungry and it was so nice of you. And she was really touched by his gesture.

The other day Adi was stuck to writing what he was grateful for, so I asked him to close his eyes and think of a time when he felt really good, he still could not think and it was the same day I had helped him finish his work when he was stuck. So I told him, “Adi remember the time when you were stuck with your work and I helped you finish it, how did you feel then?” And he said, “I felt really good, mummy!”

I realized that when I help him he takes it for granted because he knows I am always there for him. So he didn't care about mentioning my help in his grateful list, but when I made him think from a different perspective he realized that too. Then he reflected that If I had not been there to help him he would have not been able to finish his work and that would have made him really sad. So he was grateful for the fact that I was there for him when he needed me.

Now he is more involved in the grateful exercise, and he takes time to think of things that made him feel good emotionally.

So if you want to instill the habit of gratitude in your children, start by asking them why they are grateful for something, and help them notice the emotions that come with it. It’s a great way to help them become more aware of the good things happening around them, and also to be thankful for what they have. Trust me, it will make a world of difference in their lives!

This is how we can help our children to become more grateful individuals, by asking them the right questions, so that they start thinking about things emotionally and not just materially.

Now every day he looks forward to telling me 1 thing that made him happy and why it made him happy. The exercise has really helped him become more aware of the things happening around him and also to be thankful for the good things in his life. And I am really happy to see the change in him.

How to help kids become deeply grateful?

1. By Asking Them Why: When you ask your kids why they are grateful for something, it makes them think beyond the materialistic things and realize the emotional value of what they have.

2. Help Them Notice The Emotions: Guide your children to notice the emotions that come with being grateful. This will help them connect with their feelings and understand the power of gratitude.

3. Ask Them The Right Questions: Help your kids think from a different perspective by asking them questions that make them reflect on the situation. This will help them see things in a new light and be grateful for even the small things in their life.

4. Encourage Them To Express Gratitude: Encourage your kids to express gratitude regularly, so that it becomes a habit. This will help them appreciate the good things in their life and be thankful for what they have.