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Teaching Children to be Thankful

Susan Salley, EdS, LPC-I, Counselor Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas

Parents who set an example by saying "thank you" for even the smallest acts of love and kindness are helping their children develop an "attitude of gratitude." Children will be encouraged to express their thanks to others when they see their parents' model this behavior. The Thanksgiving season affords a special time to encourage thanksgiving and gratitude in all of our lives. The following are some suggestions to help make a spirit of thanksgiving last all year: Keep a "blessings jar" in a central location. Throughout the year family members record blessings they receive on slips of paper kept in the jar. A Thanksgiving prayer can be said for the blessings received. Develop a Thanksgiving notebook. Encourage family members to write down things for which they are grateful. Share the contents of the notebook at Thanksgiving time and keep them as a heritage of gratitude to be passed down through the years. Record a message of thanks to share with a relative or friend who cannot be present during the season. Involve children in activities for those who are less fortunate. Encourage children to collect canned goods, clean up a neighbor's yard, run errands for a shut-in, or visit an elderly person. For additional ideas about how to nurture a spirit of thankfulness in your children, visit www.parents.com, and do a search on the word "gratitude." Or, if your children are young, read Feeling Thankful by S. Rotner and S. Kelly.