- Parents need to be a model of gratitude. Expressing gratitude to parents is one of the full proof ways to teach recognition. Show your appreciation to parents or maids or helpers for any nice gesture. These lessons are to stay active and long in the memory of a child instead of teaching them. As parents, we need to be careful of our own habits. We should be more watchful of on our buying habit and be thankful for what we already have. Children are great observers, and they would absorb the pattern in the ongoing process of growing up.
- Daily Task every kid should be assigned: We love to be dotted parents to our kids. There is no harm in it, but we go overboard on it many times. The more a kid contributes to the daily household work the more they would appreciate the effort that needs to run the household. Start as early as possible with simple jobs. A toddler can start by putting back their play stuff. A 1st grader can be asked to make their bed. The responsibilities progress as the kids grows.
- The practice of Serving Others. Let your child participate in servicing the other people. Be it involving in a charitable organization and donating. Make them realize; how it feels better to make other people’s day bright. For very young kids a little thank you note or a handmade birthday card for grandparents. Even getting them involved in making lunch or dinner treat for someone who takes care of them. For older kids volunteering in some institutions are a great way to express gratitude for what privileges they are enjoying at present.
- Root your kids in family values which are always not materialistic. When as parents we always run under corporate pressure or worldly enjoyments we forget to enjoy the pure pleasure of life. The children are being conveyed the message silently that success in society is the ultimate goal. Do take a timeout to enjoy the simple natural outing with your kid. Even an evening card games at home or going out a small boat ride can be enjoyable. Leisurely hobbies of like growing plants and taking care are equally enjoyable.
- Make gratitude a habit in daily tradition. These are the simple steps that you can undertake. All of these things are nothing new to our Indian culture. A simple prayer before going to bed for whatever good a child can recognize. I still remember my young sister would thank in her prayers for a new pencil box or such trivial things which she had bought that day. It gets ingrained in our habit and becomes a tradition which is sure to be lifelong.
You can encourage your kids with these simple things and see how happiness would naturally follow them. It is a choice to make yourself happy by being grateful for what we have right now rather than wait for the perfect life which we have ourselves painted.