5 Creative Ways to Teach Gratitude This Season

Monkey see, monkey do. If you want to teach your kids to be thankful, model it in your own life! Here are five easy things you can do to show your kids the value of gratitude.

THANK YOU NOTES

Write thank you notes for gifts received this season. You can have the kids decorate blank cards to use or color pictures to include with your notes.

BAKE TREATS

Make some goodies to bring to your neighbors, mail carrier, barista, teachers, and other people you see on a regular basis. Kids can help with the baking and go along when you drop off the treats to experience the joy of giving.

GRATITUDE JOURNAL

Create a family gratitude journal, in which every family member can write something or someone they are thankful for each day. Read it out loud at family dinners for a gratitude boost.

DONATE

Gather up your kids and clean out your closets together. Involve them in choosing some clothes and toys they can get ride of, explaining that there are people in your community who don’t have all of the things that they need.

TALK ABOUT IT

Be generous with thankful words- say often the things in life that you are grateful for, and your kids will follow suit.

Marylynne Schwartz is a mom, wife, newly minted entrepreneur, recovering attorney and community enthusiast. I look forward to sharing my parental musings with you as well as insider tips into making the most of (aka surviving) kid-centric things to do in Chicago.