Gratitude is believed to be one of the healthiest emotions that humans can practice. Being grateful is the kindest gesture that you can show for what you are having and valuing it is the highest form of thoughts. it is critical to teach children the meaning of gratitude from a young age. Those who are raised knowing how to feel and express a sense of gratitude grow up to be well-rounded individuals, with a greater level of self-efficacy and interpersonal skills.

Research has shown that practising gratitude increases a sense of happiness as well as a range of physical, psychological and social benefits including stronger immune systems, higher levels of positive emotions and being more helpful, generous and compassionate. Practising gratitude not only helps children see the goodness in their lives but also that this can come from a number of sources.

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The magic of Gratitude when kids practice it from an early stage

When kids practice being thankful on a regular basis, they experience psychological and interpersonal benefits like:

• They are generous towards others
• Feel less stressed
• Stay positive and feel happier
• Can perform better at school
• Not very materialistic
• Able to cope up with difficulties effectively
• They are able to focus better
• Fewer health problems
  
  

The more children practice gratitude, the better they get at it and the greater the benefits. In fact, studies show that the benefits can be seen after just 2 weeks of gratitude practice, and they can last up to 6 months! So it’s definitely worth introducing the kids to some simple gratitude exercises.

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Looking for ideas?

Like any value in our lives, gratitude must be practiced. As we teach our children the importance of feeling thankful for the good things in our lives, we must also help them practice expressing that gratitude. Here is an idea to practice thankfulness with your Pre-teen while building some meaningful connections:

Thank You Notes

Encourage your kids to write thank you notes to an important person in their lives, without the receipt of a gift or expecting anything is return. It is a powerful activity for them to connect with their loved ones in a deeply meaningful way and also to show real appreciation. This teaches them to acknowledge the good things others bring to their lives as well as being mindful about the blessing of having that person in life. This small practice of being mindful and grateful will go a long way when they grow up and enter a life of their own.