Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of us are thinking about what we’re grateful for. It’s an ideal time to help your child make gratitude a regular part of life. Studies have shown that children who are taught to be grateful see the following benefits:

• Reduced stress
• Increased happiness at school
• Better performance in school
• Fewer stomachaches and headaches
• Improved relationships
• Reduced materialism

Here are 15 age-appropriate ideas to help your child practice gratitude:

• Model gratitude, such as volunteering, saying please and thank you, complimenting others, or doing a good deed without expecting anything in return.
• Before bed or at dinner, share one thing that brightened your day.
• Practice looking on the bright side of things. For example, if your child is upset about a rainy day, talk about how much fun they can have making a pillow fort or reading their favorite books.
• At the beginning of the week, discuss some nice things you’re looking forward to doing for family or friends.
• Create a family gratitude list, where every family member can write down things they’re grateful for. Keep it in a prominent location so everyone can add to it when they have something they’re thankful for.
• Ask for help around the house in age-appropriate ways, such as setting the table or putting their dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
• Encourage your child to write a quick thank-you note to a teacher, friend, or someone they feel thankful for.
• Ask your child to draw something or someone that they’re grateful for.
• Explain to your child that some kids like them don’t have enough clothes or toys, and ask them if they want to help by choosing a toy or some clothes to donate.
• Set boundaries and stick to them. If a child can’t get their way all the time, they will learn to not take things for granted.
• When giving gifts, emphasize to your child why that gift will make the recipient happy. This will help your child connect gift-giving with compassion and caring.
• Read books about gratitude together, and discuss the story.
• Go for a gratitude walk. As a family, look around and point out the things around you that make you happy. This is an ideal way to help your child learn to respect nature as well.
• Help your child work through envy by encouraging them to highlight their own positive traits and skills. Remind them that everyone has different circumstances in life.
• Praise your child if you notice them doing something nice for another person, such as sharing a toy with their sibling, or holding a door open for someone.

These 15 ways to teach your child gratitude are just a few ways you can incorporate gratitude into your child’s daily life, both at Thanksgiving and year-round.

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