Exploring Gratitude With Your Child *

Gratitude helps us to recognise and cherish all the little reasons to be happy that we might otherwise overlook. It takes a little practice and mindfulness to make gratitude a habit, but the benefits for our mental well-being are undeniable. To help your child explore gratitude, take a look at the following advice from an independent school in London.

Take Time To Reflect

Our lives sometimes seem to move at a million miles an hour and we don’t often take time out to really consider all the wonderful things we experience along the way. Our children’s lives are no exception to this, with school, clubs, homework and family time, they are already living life in their own miniature fast lane. Making time to reflect will help children recognise the small pleasures they find in everyday life. Ask your children questions about their day, encourage them to talk about the highlights and moments of joy they’ve experienced. The more we practice acknowledging positive experiences, the more they will stand out to us.

Write It Down

There’s something about putting pen to paper that makes ideas feel more tangible and important. Forming the routine of writing down things we are grateful for is more beneficial than simply trying to remember to be grateful throughout the day. You could use a chalkboard and have each family member write down something that they are grateful for each morning. This will prompt your children to take a moment to mindfully consider the things they are thankful for.

Find The Silver Lining

Being grateful doesn’t mean we can’t be upset or disappointed throughout our lives. All emotions are important and equally valid. Gratitude simply allows us to remember the positive things we still have in moments of crisis, helping us to keep set-backs in perspective and carry on moving onwards and upwards. Model gratitude to your child by trying to balance your own complaints with optimism. This shows your child that even on bad days, we still have so many positive things around us and reasons to be thankful. If your child is upset about something, of course listen and make them feel heard, but try to follow this up by helping them find reasons to smile.