Four Ways to Foster Gratitude in Children

If you have young children, you probably spend a lot of time reminding them to say “please” and “thank you.” But the importance of gratitude goes beyond good manners—research shows children who practice gratitude are happier and more optimistic, and more likely to build strong relationships.

This video from Greater Good Science Center offers a simple practice to help foster gratitude in children: 

Four Ways to Foster Gratitude in Children 

Grateful kids and teens are less likely to experience depression or jealousy, and more likely to do well in school, according to research from the American Psychological Association. Researchers have identified four parts of gratitude that help children practice gratefulness using the “notice-think-feel-do” questions:

Notice: This helps children see the amount of thought that goes into a gift. For example, if they’re given a sports jersey you could say, “Notice how it’s your favorite player’s name?” or “Notice how it’s in your favorite color?” Think: Help children understand why they received the gift by asking, “Why do…