Quotes for Teaching Gratefulness in Homeschool
Using Words of Gratitude to Teach Appreciativeness
Aug 14, 2008
Gratitude isn't just a Thanksgiving thing. Teaching children to be appreciative is a year-round effort. Using quotes for teaching gratitude is one way to encourage an attitude of gratitude.
Teaching Gratefulness
President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving Day amidst the conflict of the Civil War, to give thanks for the founding of the nation. Teaching gratefulness however, is worthy of year-round attention.
Teaching gratitude is a worthwhile pursuit; positive psychology has established that people who are grateful are happier and more successful. Nagging children to sign thank-you cards doesn’t seem to do the trick. There are other ways to teach kids to be grateful.
Thankfulness Quotations
Instead of practicing handwriting with random rows of a single letter, try using memorable quotes about thankfulness. Writing and reciting words of appreciation makes them part of a child's vocabulary. Try using copies of the handwriting practice in a thank-you card for birthday and holiday gifts.
Giving children thank-you cards for their positive actions and decisions is also effective. Praising every little thing might be counter-productive, but an occasional acknowledgement of gratitude, for all-around helpfulness or a pleasant disposition, can go a long way toward encouraging good behavior. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.” Issuing a report card isn't a common occurance in many homeschools, but periodically issuing a statement of gratitude in praise of a child's efforts and achievements can be a confidence builder.
Create an Attitude of Gratitude Box
Having a shoebox of art supplies designated for making thank-you cards can help artistic or crafty children embrace the idea of frequent displays of gratitude. Print several quotes about gratitude from your home printer. Use them in blank greeting cards and encourage children to decorate homemade thank-you cards for relatives. Stickers, markers, ribbons and scrapbooking supplies are fun to work with. Children who enjoy creating art projects will be proud to present their heartfelt thank-you cards.
Gratitude Journal
Writing in a gratitude journal is a way to train the mind to constantly look for reasons to be grateful. Make a habit of keeping a gratitude journal and encourage children to record things they are grateful for. Discussions surrounding the positive aspects of life and especially seemingly negative situations help children learn to focus their minds on the good things.
In History, writing thank you cards on behalf of, or to, historical figures can be a fun exercise. Imagine; "Dear Thomas Edison, thank you for inventing the light bulb..."
Modeling gratitude, by keeping your own journal, thanking the children for their efforts, thanking your husband or the neighbors is important. Being a mentor of thankfulness is a noble cause. No matter which method you use for teaching gratitude, the effort is worth the results.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Beattie, Melody. Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul. San Francisco: Harper, 1996.
Visitors who enjoyed this article might also like Thanksgiving crafts and Turkey Projects, or November Preschool Learning Games. Also, find more quotes about gratitude by visiting Wisdom Quotes.
