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We are approaching the time of year when there is certainly more focus on being thankful, but also a lot of intentional attempts at capturing our need for more.  This desire for more and more starts early and if intentional attempts at curbing that need for more are not put into practice, it can create just the outcome in our children we are hoping to avoid, ungrateful, unappreciative and spoiled kids.

 

It is easy to talk about gratitude and thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day, you probably had a nice meal and went around sharing what you were thankful for, but how do you continue that the entire year?  What steps can you take as a parent to encourage grateful and appreciative children.

 

Model It

Kids learn what they see, or in other words; they cannot learn what they do not see. Do you find yourself complaining about money, family members, your job or home?  When we model a lack of gratitude and appreciation on a consistent basis your children will certainly pick up this behavior and consider it ‘normal’.

So starting right now, notice what’s good and right in your world instead of noticing all that’s wrong.  Instead of focusing your energy on complaining, direct your conversations around things you enjoy about your life, the people you appreciate.

If you have trouble with this, take a look at www.onethousandgifts.com, where author Ann Voskamp has taken readers on a journey of finding the special gifts in our life each day.  This can literally change your life and your family.  Make it a personal journey or get your family involved in coming up with what you are grateful for every evening around the dinner table.

Kids learn gratitude by seeing others show appreciation in all the everyday stuff, the life that goes on around us, not just the big things – it is all about the little things.

 

Help Others in Need

Find ways for your family to help others in need.  It could be delivering meals to the housebound, making amenity bags for the homeless or serving a meal at a local shelter; get your family involved and give the opportunity for your children to truly appreciate their surroundings.  Our family volunteered for over a year hosting a meal at a local church with several other families for those who were homeless.  I can tell you – no words that I could share would have engrained what being homeless truly is and how grateful someone can be for a hot meal.  My kids saw firsthand those who were in desperate need, they had a chance to share a smile with someone who was truly grateful for what they had done for them.

This is also a perfect time to get a few gifts to wrap and donate to Giving Trees or other organizations that help children who would otherwise not get gifts during the holiday season.  As a foster parent, I can tell you that the gifts DO get to children who need them and they are so appreciated.  It is amazing how generous people can be!

 

Dish Out Thank You’s

Don’t forget to be appreciative of the small gestures that your children may do; make sure you are generous with ‘thank you’s’ inside the walls of your home. Don’t get caught up in all the hustle and bustle that you forget to acknowledge each other.  It can be easy to do, so be intentional.  Make it a family expectation, that everyone will say ‘thank you’ when they are on the receiving end, even for something as simple as passing the potatoes at dinner.  Start early and teach children to say ‘thank you’ when they receive something and also to say ‘you’re welcome’.  This habit, developed early will remain and help to build a heart of gratitude and appreciation into adulthood.

 

Ban ‘The Gimmies’

Be careful about overindulging your children with too much.  This can be extremely difficult during the holiday season, with all the pressure to buy more.  But having too much can really dilute any appreciation for what your children have.  Always giving your children what they want certainly doesn’t promote being grateful and in fact will spoil any attempts at trying to create an appreciative heart.  Be purposeful and thoughtful in your gift giving and try to relay this to family members and friends.  It is not quantity but rather the quality or thought of the gift.

 

Post written by Susan Heid…

Susan Heid is the mom behind The Confident Mom where she loves inspiring  moms to make small changes managing their home and family life giving them more time, less stress and stronger family relationships! She enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 18, 14, 10 and 17 months; is married to her very own prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle.  Her FREE 5 part mini series: “The Opening Act” is helping moms worldwide become the calm mom they want to be!  Join the community of moms on Facebook or find her @ConfidentMom on Twitter.

 

 

I can remember helping my mom set the Thanksgiving table from a very young age.  I was always given free range to make whatever centerpiece I wanted with what I could find around the house.   Now, I was a Girl Scout, so I was very ingenious and creative I must say, but for those who may need a little help in this area I have scoured the web to find some easy crafty ideas that you can do with your kids.  There is everything from free printables for table settings, games, crafts and even a few fun books to read and make a tradition in your family.  I hope you can find something to incorporate into your family Thanksgiving.

 

I had to laugh when I stumbled upon this turkey game, Pin the wattle on the turkey.  This could certainly be a fun way to welcome guests as they first arrive for dinner or you can use it at a classroom party.

 

 

 

 

Who doesn’t need some fancy Thanksgiving Head Gear to wear in celebration?  You will find a great sample over at Happy Home Fairy.

 

 

 

 

 

Now, Thanksgiving certainly calls for some fun treats and here is a collection of Thanksgiving Turkey Treats over at Living Lucarto.  You can have fun making these a few days before Thanksgiving, I am sure they will be just as fun to make as to eat!

 

 

 

 

An adorable craft to do with the kids are these Pine Cone Owls.  When the kids are bored, pull this out and I am sure it will keep them busy for at least an hour so you can prepare that turkey.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting your kids involved in setting the table and decorating it can become a great tradition.  I found a ton of wonderful ideas:  From Paper and Glitter an adorable free printable party pack that includes lots of sweet goodies to decorate “the kid’s table” for thanksgiving, or even use on the “big peoples table”.  You can make some simple paper napkin rings that double as place cards or create a Pilgrim Napkin ring complete with each guest’s picture!  Both are fairly simple and would be easy for even small hands.

 

I found this great Thanksgiving Subway Art Printable from Bunch of Craft, if you have a frame it will make a budget friendly decoration in your entryway to welcome guests.

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a great tradition to start in your family to truly focus on being grateful, take a look at these Thanks and Giving Printable Trees from Chocolate on My Cranium.  You have two trees to fill with things you are grateful for as well as ways you have served others.  What a great visual reminder to post on your refrigerator.  Wouldn’t it be fun to keep each year’s trees and look back on them when your kids get older?

 

 

Have a pre-Thanksgiving Day dinner with a Paper Bag Turkey – you have got to take a look at this great popcorn filled turkey!  Your kids will surely enjoy carving into this bird.

 

 

 

 

 

And for a few good stories you can check out Twas the Night before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey, Thanksgiving is For Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland and Sonja Lumut and don’t forget to snuggle up on the sofa and watch, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

Now you can round out everything with a great selection of Thanksgiving word searches, mazes and crossword puzzles over at Kaboose.  These are always handy to have around for those moments when all you are hearing is, “I’m bored.”

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

 

Post written by Susan Heid…

Susan Heid is the mom behind The Confident Mom where she loves inspiring  moms to make small changes managing their home and family life giving them more time, less stress and stronger family relationships! She enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 18, 14, 10 and 17 months; is married to her very own prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle.  Her FREE 5 part mini series: “The Opening Act” is helping moms worldwide become the calm mom they want to be!  Join the community of moms on Facebook or find her @ConfidentMom on Twitter.