"That's not fair!" Oh, how many times I have to hear this obnoxious phrase around here.
Or how about the constant "I want {fill in the blank}"? With the dramatically increased frequency of toy commercials on TV as we round the corner towards Christmas, I'm hearing that one A LOT.
So in a world where our children are shown more stuff than they could ever actually need and are encouraged to live as if they are entitled to anything and everything, I'm actively searching for effective ways to teach them about gratitude, generosity, and grace. And what better time of year to drive those lessons home than Thanksgiving?
In my search for resources, I found this great video where Dr. Christine Carter of University of California Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center gives some wonderful and practical tips for teaching gratitude to young children. If your family has other traditions or ways to teach/reinforce gratitude, please share!
(photo purchased from istockphoto)
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Barbara Rainey of FamilyLife has a true heart for gratitude and each year around Thanksgiving she creates wonderful connecting opportunities for families. She just released a new devotional book that includes seven lessons parents can do with their children to teach gratitude! And when my children say "it's not fair" I tell them…the fair is in October! I even wrote a post about that last year! You gotta love kids – they keep us on our toes!