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Raising thankful kids can be challenging at any time of year. I find it particularly difficult, and therefore even more of a priority, around the holiday season. As the toy catalogs start to fill the mailbox and Christmas displays appear full of the newest trends, kids (and, let’s be real, adults too) have a hard time not wanting more.
Being thankful for what we have is a skill we can all benefit from. Teaching it to our kids early will only make their lives more peaceful and less stressful. As Luke says “…Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Life is about more than stuff and we have something far greater than the newest toy to be thankful for. “Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1
In the end, discontent and the desire for more is a heart issue.
If you are focused on your greatest blessing- God’s love- every blessing that comes from Him only shines brighter and holds more weight. And once we understand the sacrifice God made in His Son, how could we possibly ask Him for more? This is what I want my children to understand.
This is a big job. It has to be lived out on a daily basis. I must be an example of contentment. So the following tools are as much for me as they are for my children.
If I can’t be thankful, how can I expect to raise thankful kids?
In our efforts to raise thankful kids, we’ve incorporated a few simple traditions this holiday season.
1. A blessings tree
As November approached I began seeing pictures of super cute paper trees pasted on friends’ walls scattered throughout my social media feeds. Some are made with recycled packing material, or construction paper and some even take up full walls. The idea is to write your blessings down on paper leaves and then fill the tree. One family placed all their leaves at the base of the tree as if their blessings were raining down like falling leaves. So cute! I just don’t have the wall space for this so I decided to draw a tree on the giant chalkboard my dad made for us over the summer.
It’s been such a wonderful visual reminder. It’s hung on the wall just behind our dinner table, so the kids can see it when we eat together and discuss what they are thankful for each day. As they think of new blessings I just draw a leaf and write it in. Super easy and low prep.
No matter how you choose to display your blessing tree, I suggest you keep it somewhere it can be seen throughout the day. It’s so nice to walk by it and see the leaves beginning to fill the tree.
2. Focus on the source
Kids love praise! They thrive on it. Being praised for hard work, a well done school assignment, or a creative drawing will make any child beam with pride. And kids should be praised! But they should also be reminded that Gods approval is what we should be seeking.
When my daughter shows me a drawing she worked particularly hard on, of course I am thrilled and hang it on the wall, compliment her color choices and imagination, but I will sometimes ask “Who made you so creative, my sweet girl?!” Or with a well done school assignment, “Who gave you such a hard working and clever mind?!” She has caught on to the game and always happily answers “God did!” It doesn’t have to be every time but this is a gentle way of reminding her who she should thank and how blessed she is.
It’s a simple thing to weave into our daily routine as well. “It’s a beautiful day! Who should we thank for that?” or “I’m so glad God has blessed us with a car that runs.” If they hear you being thankful they will want to join in! It becomes part of your family culture.
3. Give them their own visual
Giving your kids their own way to physically participate in this season of thankfulness can be fun and beneficial. Last year I made our gratitude banner to start the tradition of reading verses about being grateful. This year I wanted something the kids could participate in a little more. We still hung our banner because we love it, but I’m also adding a gratitude wheel.
And to spread the joy of being thankful, I’ve added this fun activity to my free printable library for you all to enjoy!
It prints out on two pages in black and white so your kiddos can color and decorate it themselves. Then you just cut out the two wheels and the shaded area on the top wheel, overlap them, and attach the wheels together with a brad pin. On the bottom wheel there are sections with space for the kids to write or draw what they’re thankful for each day. After seven days their wheel is full of blessings and they get to color in the “Happy Thanksgiving” section. It’s a great way to countdown to Thanksgiving and count your blessings!
Raising thankful kids really is a year-round goal. I’m confident that by adding some of these fun and simple traditions to our celebration this month, it will help make gratitude a habit.
Take me to the FREE Printables Library!
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