Image by Teo's photo via Flickr
Teaching children gratitude is all about their attitude but more importantly it’s about the parents attitude and the mirror image they portray to their children and the rest of the world to see.
Gratitude is such a brilliant gift that has been bestowed upon us if we choose it. The sophistication of this gift is simple. It is a choice. Be thankful for what you have, who you are and who you can be. It’s all about perception. It doesn’t matter what societal status you come from, what your wallet has in it or how you were culturally raised. Be thankful for what you have and feel right now in this exact moment in time. Hard times and good times. These are all opportunities to acknowledge gratitude. To give a shout out to gratitude. As we teach our children to witness this invisible mind thought, the concept emerges within them just as easy as they learn how to brush their teeth, their ABC’s or how to tie their shoes. These are life skills they will use through-out their whole life. Gratitude can be a wholesome part of your healthy intentional conscious parenting routine.
Guest post by Carol Lawrence and Stacy Toten
Visit Carol and Stacy’s blog Intentional Conscious Parenting for more intentional parenting topics, book reviews, author interviews and live author chats.
Good post. Thre appears to be more to developing an attitude of gratitude in children than just encouraging thank you notes. It appears, according to research on the brain that “When we intentionally take in the good we are building resources in our neural circuitry to act as a buffer against stress, negativity, trauma, and to promote our brain’s (thus mind’s) flexibility and resilience.” All things that are good to learn at an early age. You might enjoy this article on gratitude — The Neuroscience of Gratitude by Linda Graham, MFT
Judie, thanks for adding the article, “The Neuroscience of Gratitude.” Gratitude is a great way to create a buffer against stress. It helps us shift our focus which in turn shifts our energy. Thanks for the lovely comment!
[...] Teaching children gratitude is all about their attitude by Carol Lawrence and Stacy Toten (womeninfluencingnow.wordpress.com) [...]
[...] Teaching children gratitude is all about their attitude by Carol Lawrence and Stacy Toten (womeninfluencingnow.wordpress.com) [...]
Isn’t it amazing that we have to learn and cultivate that attitude of gratitude? Focusing on the things that we have rather on the things that we long for takes courage and faith.
Thank you very much for this wonderful post!
I have been remembering this lately… When I move too fast I can’t see the beauty and riches in each day..
Thanks!
Maureen