Sometimes it's hard to remember to be grateful. Life gets busy and overwhelming and we have both certainly found ourselves being less than appreciative for all we have. So it's no wonder that kids can struggle with this feeling. Gratitude is a practice and it's important that we remember that and model it with our children. The more we can teach them to stop and appreciate what we already have the happier they will be. It's been proven that your ability to feel grateful has a huge impact on how happy you are. But if that isn't enough motivation here are some more reasons why practicing gratitude with kids is so important.
Why It's Important To Practice Gratitude With Kids
Practicing gratitude with kids is important because it helps them to learn to appreciate life's simple pleasures, such as spending time with their family and friends. When kids can slow down and appreciate the world around them they'll be more likely to help contribute to their environment in a positive way.
It also teaches them to express gratitude and recognize the efforts of others, which can help to foster relationships. Kids who can really appreciate the work of others are better collaborators, and have a stronger sense of empathy.
Gratitude can help to cultivate a sense of optimism and hope, which can strengthen their resilience and help them to cope with life's challenges. Kids who develop their resilience and can re frame challenges in a positive way, have a higher rate of success.
Lastly, gratitude can also help to promote positive mental wellbeing, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance overall wellbeing. As we mentioned above, a person's happiness can be directly tied to their ability to practice gratitiude. In fact, it has been one of the biggest determining factors when happiness has been measured.
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Here is a fun way to help build your gratitude practice with your children. We created this scavanger hunt as a way to connect with our kids and to remind the whole family of all the wonderful things, people and opportunities that surround us. Get the whole family involved! You'll likely learn something new about each other and you'll share the joy that gratitude brings.
-Kim and Ori 💜💙