5 Tips for Creating a Thankful Home
Around the holidays, it’s normal to reflect on your blessings and express thankfulness. However, thankfulness is a year-round virtue! We know it’s hard sometimes to pause in the middle of the busyness of your family’s schedule and be thankful, so check out our tips on how to make thankfulness part of your home every day.
#1 Model thankfulness: Say “thanks” every day. If you want your kids to be thankful, they must see it in you first. Make a point to say “thank you” every day. Thank your child for doing their chores well. Thank your wife for making a great dinner or for her help in getting the kids to extracurricular activities. Don’t limit thanks for actions–thank your family for being kind, patient, caring, or whatever character quality you notice about them that day.
#2 Weekly “thankful” update. During dinner, ask each member of the family what they were most thankful for that week. Make it a weekly habit every Friday. Taking a moment to reflect on the week will help everyone find something positive, even if it was a tough week. Plus, it will give you extra insight into what’s going on in your child’s life. (If your kids are young, you might have to do this daily because they may not remember what happened the whole week.)
#3 Post your thankfulness. Hand a dry-erase board in a prominent place in your home and call it “The Thankful Board.” Encourage your family to write messages on the board to either say thanks to each other or to share something they are thankful for. Use colorful markers and fun magnets to decorate your “Thankful Board.”
#4 Teach the “whys” of thankfulness. Help your children understand why it is important to say “thank you.” It’s not just because it’s good manners! Ask your kids how they feel when someone says “thank you” to them. Tell them that other people also want to feel noticed, appreciated, and valued and that saying “thank you” makes someone else feel happy too.
#5 Don’t over indulge. Part of being thankful is understanding that we aren’t entitled to nice things in life. Help your kids value the things they have by not going overboard with treats and toys. As Parents.com put it, granting every whim is not a good way to teach gratefulness–an occasional “no” makes “yes” much more appreciated. And of course, when your kids do get a treat or gift, encourage them to say “thanks.”
The number one way to create a thankful home is to make sure you are thankful!