Gratitude is one of the best attributes parents can instill in their children as early as possible. It can bring joy in even the simplest situation. Raising your child to be grateful doesn’t just make them polite person – it can also set them up for a happy life in the future.

Most parents start teaching their child at a young age to say “thank you” when they receive something. However, gratitude for kids does not just mean being thankful for material blessings. Parents should teach their children a deeper sense of gratitude for the blessings they receive daily. Kids who are more grateful tend to be less envious of others, less materialistic, and less depressed.

Your preschoolers are never too young to learn to be thankful. It’s never too early or too late to create a habit. Everything starts at home, and it is best to teach gratitude to your kids even in infancy. Here are some simple activities to teach gratitude to kids:

1. Thank You Postcards

This is basically saying thank you to every person you are thankful for. You can get blank postcards from the post office or any craft store. Each day, ask your child to choose one person they are grateful for. Then, you and your child can pick out one postcard and decorate it. You can have it personalized based on the character of the person. This activity is better done in the morning. The idea of starting a day with a positive attitude makes the rest of the day more meaningful. Plus, you will definitely make someone else’s day when they receive your thank you postcard.

2. Family Gratitude Book

Create a family gratitude book regularly. It can be done weekly or once a month during a family meeting.

3. Gratitude Jar

Keep a “giving thanks” or gratitude jar on the kitchen table or in the living area. Dedicate or decorate a jar (if you are feeling creative), and have pieces of paper beside it. Every day, inform everyone to write down what they are grateful for and put it in the jar. Make it a daily routine or just let anyone drop notes as they wish with something they are thankful for. Once a week, or at a specified time you all agree upon, have a sit down with the family and read the notes together.

4. Thankfulness Tree or Gratitude Wreath

Create a make-shift tree and cut out leaves. Write what you are thankful for on the leaves. Being thankful is a reminder of how beautiful life is and it fills our soul. The same feeling is felt each time you and your child add leaves to the Thankfulness Tree. You can also create a wreath and add leaves to it.

5. “What Would You Feel Without It” Game

This is a  gratitude activity for preschoolers that can be done at any time of the day. It’s a question and answer game. Simply ask your child what they would feel if they did not have certain items. They will be shocked to know how different their life would be without a few of the things they consider “normal” to have. This can also be a way of starting a discussion with them about how others are still living without those items. Through this game, they can remember to appreciate the things that they normally take for granted.

6. Thanksgiving Time Capsule

Get a jar and let everyone write what they are thankful for on strips of paper. Place these papers in the jar and bury it in the backyard. On the next Thanksgiving, dig the jar up and read what everyone was thankful last year. 

Just like any other habits or skills, developing a sense of gratitude takes effort and practice. There are many gratitude activities for kids that you can try and incorporate in your daily routine. Remember, the more gratitude practice and activities your give your preschoolers, the more natural it will be for them to be thankful for every blessing they receive. Being grateful will eventually become part of their character and you will have a child who is not just polite but really happy and contented.

At Wee Care, your child is taught how to show gratitude even to the littlest blessing they receive. Contact Wee Care to learn more! 

The holiday season is the time to give and receive gifts, such as books, toys, and movies. Children look at different toys that shine in malls that make their eyes sparkle with joy. Parents, on the other hand, worry about the safety of the toys they buy.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, many of us will be gathering with our families. This will be an excellent time to share stories, and listen to grandparents talk about family history. Because wonderful and interesting stories get passed around during this time of the year, November is called the National Family Stories Month.

It is exciting to have this celebration, but the National Family Stories Month is not just about collecting and sharing family stories. It’s also about preserving family traditions. Be sure to enjoy and make the most of the National Family Stories Month with these brilliant ideas!

Share stories about your childhood

One of the most interesting stories everybody loves listening to is the story of your childhood. Share your fondest memories of when you were your kids’ age. What were the funniest things you did? What was the most memorable? Reminiscing on your childhood is a fun way to bring laughter to the group. Make it more exciting by flipping through old photo albums and showing photos of when you were younger.

Talk about your family traditions

Family traditions are important because they strengthen family bonds. Share with the younger members of the family the traditions you’ve kept. Explain why you have maintained them. Even if they are as simple as saying a prayer before a Thanksgiving meal, putting up a Christmas tree or hanging stockings on Christmas Eve, these traditions are always meaningful.

Document memories

It’s always fun to relive the good old days, especially when the memories were documented. Continue to add entries and include your children’s. Keep their baby photos and take note of important milestones. They would love to hear funny stories of when they were little. These keepsakes are something that your child will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Ask grandma and grandpa to share the story of how they met

Another exciting story the family would love is the story of how grandma and grandpa met. Times were different so many years ago and it would be interesting to find out your grandparents’ love story. During their time, communication wasn’t easy. There were no mobile phones or internet and it’s romantic to learn about courtship from back then.

Listen to some good, old music

There will always be those songs that bring feelings of nostalgia when played. Play the songs that bring back good memories, or ones that you danced to back in the day! Does your family have a favorite song to sing or dance to? Find a record or a CD of that music and put it on! Tell the younger members how it all started and share this tradition with them.

Play a movie the entire family has always loved watching

Did your family have a favorite TV show or childhood movie when you were growing up? Why don’t you watch it together? No matter how old it is, nothing’s more fun than everyone gathered around while watching a family favorite!

Start a new tradition with your kids

Aside from the existing family traditions, it’s also a good idea to start a new tradition with your kids. You can bake a favorite cookie recipe or learn a new game. Any activity will do as long as it creates new wonderful memories together.

Family stories are some of the best things that bind us for years and years. Continue to celebrate them while you create new family memories together! Use this guide and make use of these ideas to make your National Family Stories Month more fun and meaningful!