Practicing Gratitude as a Family

     Dr. Kristen Rice, from Balance Your Brain to Balance Your Life,  shares how her family developed gratitude practices that have created meaning and connection in their lives.  She shares some simple ideas that shift our thinking and bond us to one another:

       One of the first things we teach our kids as soon as they learn to speak is to say, "Thank you." Think of the countless times you have said, "What do you say?..." to prompt your child to utter these words. But do our kids really have any idea what it means to be thankful?

Practicing gratitude has benefits that go far beyond having a polite kid. Studies show that people who practice gratitude feel 25% happier, are more likely to be kind and helpful to others, are more enthusiastic, interested and determined, and the benefits for our kids are equally as impressive (learn more in the video).

So how can families practice gratitude in meaningful ways? Here are a few ideas.

3 ideas for incorporating the practice of gratitude into your day

1) Express your appreciation for each other.

In my house we started this as a birthday tradition. When it is someone's birthday we go around the table and express what we all appreciate about that person. The first time we did this it was uncomfortable for me — it felt 'cheesy' for lack of a better term. But when I heard the amazing things my kids had to say it quickly became my favorite family ritual, and we remind each other of what has been said often. But don’t feel like you need to wait for a major life event to show your appreciation – I have a friend who comes home from work and often finds a sticky note on her fridge from her partner, expressing appreciation for her.

2) Make a gratitude jar.

This can be a fun project for kids. Find a container and let the kids decorate it. Cut out some pieces of scratch paper and put them in a convenient place so that family members can write down things they feel grateful for and place the paper in the jar. If kids can't yet write then having them draw a picture of something works great too! Then, open the jar once a week or once a month and read what everyone has written. I’ve been amazed at not only what is written between family members, but also the long lasting, positive effects this has had on our relationships, especially between my children.

3) Make it part of your bedtime routine.

Take a few minutes at the end of each day to show appreciation for the little things in your life for which you are thankful. Write your thoughts in a journal, or ask your kids to tell you three things they are thankful for before they go to bed. Try to think of one new thing each day – ideally something that happened that day.

     Life can often seem busy and overwhelming.  Teaching our children to stop and notice the things that bring joy and comfort, to find the positives among the challenges, builds their resilience and confidence.   And for that, we are grateful.  

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    Here are some beautiful questions to utilize with your child which help us reflect on our blessings:   Questions to Deepen Your Child's Experience of Gratitude

    Make Thanksgiving Break even more meaningful by reading some of these stories to your young children:  BOOKS that will make your CHILD FEEL ABSOLUTELY LOVED


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     Join us for the next Mountain Strong Families presentation on Tuesday, Dec 3rd.  Parents will practice how to Redirect and Repair Relationships while disciplining.  RSVP to ann@teensinc.org