Grateful Kids: Nurturing Thankfulness In Children

By; Faith Storck

I always strive to find the positive in every situation, even in challenging times. One
thing I’m grateful for is the ability to see God’s goodness, regardless of circumstances. As I sit
in the hospital with my dad, his consistent response to everyone—from housekeeping
staff to doctors—truly stands out. He exemplifies gratitude and positivity in each and
every interaction. As he is in his hospital bed, he uses each and every interaction that he has with people to get to know them personally (I mean we know where everyone is from, their marital status, etc.). He bonded with one of his nurses because she also has congestive heart failure and as she was leaving last night after his shift, the last thing he said to her, was “Thank you for taking care of me today. I really appreciate it. I am praying for you.” If that isn’t living a 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 life, I don’t know what is. (“Rejoice always, pray
continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”)

This behavior, not just during this hospital stay but throughout his life, has deeply influenced
me and everyone around him. Many times people have commented on similar behavior in myself, and I know that it is a result of the behavior he modeled for me throughout my
life.

Parents, your children are sponges, soaking up everything you do, and often times they
mimic what they are shown. If I could give any words of wisdom in the area of teaching
your children thankfulness, it would be by following the verses in the Bible that are
mentioned below and living out a life of being an example. Your children will learn by
observing your behavior.

MODEL GRATITUDE
Express Thankfulness: Find ways to thank those around you, whether it’s family members, coworkers, service workers, or friends. Share stories: Tell them about a time someone helped you or made your day better. Emphasizing the impact of gratitude they had on your life. Share stories of gratitude with your children…. Big or small. “Follow my example, as I follow the
example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

ENCOURAGE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thank you notes: Encourage children to recognize kindness by writing thank-you notes.
While it might feel old-fashioned, everyone loves receiving personal mail. This helps them
practice and reinforces the importance of recognizing other peoples efforts. Don’t wait
until high school graduation to teach your child the importance of thank you notes.
Verbal recognition: Teach your children to verbally thank the people they interact with daily, such as their teachers, coaches, or even your local cashiers at Oak Point.

PRACTICE THANKFULNESS IN PRAYER
Incorporate gratitude into your family prayers. Encourage your children to thank
God for their blessings, such as their family, friends, and things they have or get to do. This
helps your child to recognize and appreciate all that the Lord has done. Each week at church, I
use the opportunity to thank God for the crazy kids that came to church that day/night. It might seem silly, but the kids love it and they have no idea I’m teaching them thankfulness through prayer. By incorporating gratitude into your prayers, we help our children
recognize and appreciate the blessings in their lives.
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

ENCOURAGE ACTS OF KINDNESS
Engage in acts of kindness: Engaging in acts of kindness teaches children the importance of
giving without expecting anything in return. Engage your children in acts of kindness,
whether it’s helping a neighbor, donating toys, or volunteering at your church or at a local charity. These opportunities allow your children to see the impact of gratitude in
action, fostering a sense of appreciation for what they have. Simple acts, like painting
a stone or baking cookies for a local fire department, show children the joy of making
others smile. Look for ways to do random acts of kindness with your children to teach them
that they don’t always have to get something in return and making someone’s day is really
the goal.
“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12.

NURTURING GRATITUDE INYOUR CHILDREN IS A LIFELONG GIFT.
By modeling thankfulness and encouraging appreciation, you help them develop a
compassionate and grateful outlook on life. Using God, and scripture as your guide, you can raise grateful kids who will appreciate the beauty in everyday life and spread gratitude to
those around them. Let’s commit to fostering gratitude in our families and communities,
raising children who appreciate life’s beauty and share that gratitude with others.