With only 6 weeks until Christmas there is no better time to start teaching our children the importance of being grateful.

Gratitude is an important quality to teach our children. Studies have shown that grateful people are happier, more resilient, have higher self-esteem and build healthier relationships. Gratitude does not develop naturally, rather we need to model, teach, encourage and install gratitude within our children. As Christmas approaches and children give and receive gifts it is a perfect time to focus on teaching our children this quality. Here are a few suggestions:

• Model thanks - thank your children for cleaning up, giving you a hug, listening to you, etc.
• Assign chores - have a list of chores that your child must do, this teaches children that their contributions are important and allow them to see how they benefit from what other's do, such as you doing their laundry.
• Have rituals - such as sharing a favourite part of your child's and your day before bedtime and including discussions about what they have been thankful for during that day.
• Expect your child to thank you for what you do for them, such as thanking you for their dinner
• Sit down with your child and write thank you notes to people that they receive gifts from, including a sentence as to why they liked that particular gift or how they will use it.
• Engage your children in volunteering or helping out - this may be for a charity organisation, an elderly family member or neighbour or even choosing a Christmas tag off the Target or Kmart tree and contributing a gift.
  
  

Beta Kidz Consultancy is an online Early Childhood Consultancy and Parent Counselling service assisting parents Australia-wide via web-cam, voice technology and email based communication.
Beta Kidz offers Online Parenting Help (individual parenting consultations), Parenting Courses, Counselling and Support Groups. All services are provided from the convenience and comforts of your own home at affordable prices. We are highly experienced and qualified and are able to assist with all parenting concerns including behaviour and tantrums, sleep concerns, toilet training, routines, anger management, eating concerns, optimising learning and play and learning ideas to enhance development.
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