How to Teach an Attitude of Gratitude in Kids

It’s no surprise that raising little humans is hard work.  But how do you raise children with an attitude of gratitude?  

I’m reluctant to admit this, but here goes: I was a spoiled, entitled “only child” up until middle-school age. My parents won’t admit that, but everyone has their say. 

It’s all fun and games until you have to raise them! ~Vanessa Sias (that’s me!)

So, obviously, when I had my own kids I set out to NOT have history repeat itself. Here are a few tips I have on raising my three young children to grow up with an attitude of gratitude: 

1. Manners

It goes without say that one of the most important things we can do as parents is to instill great manners into our littles. From the time when they are jibber jabbering we speak to them, “it’s bath time”- at bath time,  “yummy bananas”- when they sit down to have breakfast, “thank you”- when they give you a toy that fell on the floor.  Saying PLEASE and THANK YOU are common in the home.  

Not only are our kiddos expected to express gratitude to parents, teachers, family and friends but vice versa.  We need to tell them THANK YOU when they’ve done or said something that merits a thanks.  They are sponges; if they hear us say those words to them, our spouse, our friends, the bank teller, the grocery store clerk, they’re more inclined to do the same. 

2. Being ungrateful….GASP!

Kids will be kids and sometimes they really do not care for the effort it took to cook a meal, plan an adventure or simply chauffeur them around. In these times it’s okay to politely call them out.  If they know that those things took someone time and effort to make happen they begin to understand that expressing gratitude is great for everyone (including them).  

Case in point: my 9-year-old decided that one of my new recipes was not up to par with some of my recent culinary endeavors.  He proceeded to vocalize his disdain for said meal. Politely, my husband explained to him the time it took me to find a recipe, shop for ingredients, prep, cook and serve (all the while looking after three children).  Needless to say, he saw it in a new light.  Trust me, it’s totally okay to call your kids out if they’re being ungrateful.  

3. Give

This part of the year brings about thankfulness among everyone.  Recently my sons school sent out a flyer asking for non-perishable food items to help local families in our community. My middle little (4-years-old) asks why we are getting these foods and not stocking them in our pantry.  

Plain and simple: “It is in giving that we receive.” ~Francis of Assisi.  Showing our kids that when we are afforded the ability to give to others we are teaching them that an attitude of gratitude can start with us doing something for someone else. They have also loved donating their outgrown clothes and toys to our local outreach center.  A great place to start with this is the Children Advocacy Center of Collin County.

It’s never too early to start the conversation of gratitude with the little humans in your life.

How are you trying to instill an “attitude of gratitude” in your children?