Blog
01/10/2025
Gratitude: Advocacy for the Well-Being of Children and Families
Most parents teach their children manners, like saying “thank you” when receiving something or when someone does something for them. However, teaching kids gratitude is much more than that. In recent years, practicing it has gained a lot of attention thanks to numerous celebrities and researchers boasting its benefits. If you’re wondering how to instill gratitude in your kids and why it’s essential for family well-being, you’re not alone.
The Benefits of Gratitude
Before we dive into how you can establish gratitude activities for kids, you’d probably like to know why you should devote time to it. There are several reasons why this is a worthwhile endeavor. Some prominent benefits of practicing gratitude include:
- Improving Your Health: Research shows gratitude positively affects physical and mental health. A 2012 study in Personality and Individual Differences found that those individuals who practiced it regularly reported fewer aches and pains, even going so far as to say they felt healthier overall. Additionally, grateful people tend to take better care of themselves, exercising consistently and attending regular doctor’s appointments. Leading researcher Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., confirmed that gratitude increases happiness and reduces depression.
- Making You More Likable: Beyond simply expressing good manners, showing appreciation and gratitude for others has been found to increase the likelihood of forming relationships. Research shows that grateful people are less likely to show aggression or retaliate, even when subjected to negative emotions or behaviors, due to their increased sensitivity and empathy toward others.
- Increasing Self-Esteem: Studies found that practicing gratitude boosts self-esteem. Specifically, it reduces social comparisons, allowing individuals to appreciate others’ accomplishments without feeling resentful, a major factor in self-esteem.
- Enhancing Resilience: Research shows that gratitude reduces stress and increases resilience in overcoming stressful or traumatic events. Recognizing and appreciating what you have can help you navigate life’s challenges.
Of course, as parents, we want to raise well-liked, kind, resilient, empathetic, and healthy children with positive self-esteem. But how do we do it?
Practicing Family Gratitude
Depending on your children’s age, you’ll approach establishing a gratitude practice differently. It’s never too early to start. Here are our favorite ways to begin a family gratitude practice:
Be a Model
Most young children are sponges and take cues from the adults around them about how to behave. So, one of the best ways to teach your children gratitude is to be grateful! This will benefit you as well. Show appreciation to others outside the home, your spouse or partner, relatives, and especially your children. Thank them when they clean their room, hug you, or help their sibling. Whenever you see your kids doing something you appreciate, express gratitude. You’ll model the behavior, and they will learn how good it feels to receive someone’s appreciation.
Volunteer or Help Others
Find age-appropriate ways for your family to volunteer in your community. There are many ways to help others; chances are you can find something that aligns with your kids’ interests. Do they like being outdoors? Help with a park cleanup or planting a community garden. Do they love meeting new people? Take them to socialize with elderly residents at a retirement home. The possibilities are endless. They’ll learn how small actions can make a big difference and be appreciated by those around them.
Gratitude Journaling
A gratitude journal for kids can be incredibly beneficial for their physical and psychological well-being, regardless of your children’s writing skills. To do this, have them write down a few things they’re grateful for each day. These don’t have to be big things; they could be something as simple as being thankful for the cookie they enjoyed. Little things can add up to make a significant impact over time. If your little ones can’t write yet, write for them. You can keep your own gratitude journal, too!
There you have it! Three simple ways to teach gratitude to kids and enhance family well-being. Practicing it will help younger children naturally notice things to be grateful for. Plus, it’s free to start, so why wait?