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A Time to Be Thankful
Cultivating Gratitude in Children During the Holidays
By Melissa Granberry
It happens every December – I envision my children opening up each holiday gift, curious about what is inside, getting exactly what they want and playing with the toy before moving on to the next present. The reality is my kids rip through their gifts, dump out their stockings and scan the room wondering, "Is that it?"
Hopefully, my children are not the only ones rushing around looking for "one more gift." As a parent, I want to instill the idea of being thankful for not only the material gifts we receive during the holidays, but also of all the treasures we often overlook in our daily lives.
According to a study at the University of California, Davis, practicing gratitude can make us happier and more optimistic. The researchers found that grateful people report feeling higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality and optimism, and lower levels of depression and stress. Imagine, if we teach our children gratitude at an early age, they can experience these positive feelings throughout their lives. But can you teach gratitude to children?
Rabbi Buchwald suggests a few Jewish customs to help families remember to be thankful on a daily basis. One custom is putting a few coins in a charity box each day. The small amount of change will add up to help someone less fortunate. Another custom is to leave a morsel on your plate at every meal to remember those who are without food.
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