By Guest: LINDSEY BELL
I’m sure every parent has been there.
You’re watching your child open presents at his birthday party and notice a sack full of clothes from Aunt Nita. You can tell by the look on his face he’s not thrilled with his new gift. You can also tell by the look on Aunt Nita’s face she is.
You hold your breath and wait. Will he thank her anyway, even though he’s not super-thrilled with the clothes?
Raising thankful children is a difficult task, especially in today’s culture where people rarely send thank you cards anymore and are able to get everything they want with the swipe of a credit card or the click of a mouse.
My son’s fifth birthday party was a few weeks ago, and he said thank you to every single person who brought a gift. (Sure, it took some coaxing from me, but he still did it, right?)
Along with encouraging our children to say “thank you,” there are several other ways to help them learn to be thankful. Here are a few I came up with:
1. Practice.
Set up a pretend birthday party and practice saying “thank you” for each gift your children receive. This could be done right before a child’s birthday as a reminder of how he should act as he opens presents.
2. Involve your kids in service.
Service, especially in regard to those who are less fortunate, has a way of helping children realize how blessed their lives really are. Instead of shielding your kids from those who are less fortunate, encourage them to reach out and help (with your supervision, of course).
3. Read books and watch movies about being thankful and generous.
One great book is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. My son also loves the Boz the Bear books about thankfulness. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory serves as a great example of how greed can negatively impact someone’s life.
4. Require thank you cards.
From the very beginning, make it the norm to say “thank you” and to write thank you notes. If your children know it is expected of them (especially if you start this young), it will become a habit.
5. Tell your children why thankfulness is important.
Help them understand that Aunt Nita put a lot of thought into the new clothes she purchased. Also help them understand that gifts cost money. Teach them the value of a dollar, so they will recognize the sacrifice someone might have made to buy a gift.
6. Thank the Lord every night at dinner for the things he has blessed you with each day.
And while you’re at it, make sure and include non-material things in your list of blessings. If you make it all about the “stuff” you have, your kids will also make it all about the “stuff” they have.
7. Set a good example.
If you want your children to say “thank you,” then you need to say “thank you.” Be thankful to the grocery store checker who loaded your groceries into your cart. Be thankful to the gas station attendant who gave you the correct change. Be thankful to your husband and your children and the Lord.
As you model thankfulness, your children will follow your example.
Let’s talk: What other things can you do to encourage your children to be thankful?
About Lindsey Bell:
Lindsey Bell is the author of Searching for Sanity, a parenting devotional that will be released in January 2014. She’s also a stay-at-home mother of two, minister’s wife, avid reader, and chocolate lover. You can find Lindsey online at any of the following locations:
Her blog: www.lindsey-bell.com
Her website: www.lindseymbell.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LindseyMBell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorLindseyBell
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/LindseyMBell01
About Searching for Sanity:
Have you ever looked at your beloved children and wondered, what in the world am I doing? Why did God trust me—of all people—to raise them?
Motherhood is the most difficult job many of us will ever take. Searching for Sanity offers moms an opportunity to take a breath, dig into the Word, and learn from parents of the past. In short devotions designed for busy moms, this book uses the parents of the Bible—both the good and the bad—to inspire today’s mothers.
It’s coming soon, so be on the lookout!
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