‘Tis the season!

No, not that season. (But no judgement if you’ve got tinsel sprinkled into your fallscapes.)

‘Tis the season of turkey, stuffing (yourself), football, family and gratitude. It’s Thanksgiving time!

But with Christmas cheer creeping into early November, it’s easy to dismiss Thanksgiving as a buffet day. And Thanksgiving is so much more than food. It’s a chance to count your blessings and give thanks to those we love. But how do you teach your kids to be thankful for what they’ve received when they’re wired to want more?

Here are eight simple ways to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your home this Thanksgiving — and beyond:

• Grow a gratitude tree - There are countless ways (see here and here) to “grow” a gratitude tree. Once your tree is up, have your child hang a leaf every day with a thankful thought or act of kindness written on it. Soon your tree will be full of blessings!

• Volunteer - Helping others is the fastest way to shift your child’s inward focus to an outward perspective. If your kids are small, start with simple service for family or friends. For older kids and teens, find local opportunities at JustServe.org to help them give back to their community.

• Send thank-you cards - Kids love to color and craft, so it’s easy to get them on board with making cards for family and friends. In their own words, have them thank the people who’ve made a difference in their lives.

• Have a thankful moment - Take a few minutes at dinner or before bedtime for every family member to share something they are grateful for that day. Do this for a month, or make it a daily habit. 

• Start a gratitude journal - For older kids (and parents), a gratitude journal is a permanent way to record thankful thoughts. Purchase a notebook for them to write down what they appreciated that day. They’ll be amazed by how much abundance surrounds them. I purchased this little book off Amazon for $6.99 with daily prompts for Gratitude and highly recommend!

• Give (and accept) compliments - Parents can kick off a compliment craze by thanking kids for their hard work, kindness and service. Also, watch how you accept compliments. If you reject others’ praise, it minimizes the importance of expressing admiration and respect.

• Donate - November is the perfect time to purge outgrown and unused items to make room for Christmas gifts. Tie it into Thanksgiving by having your children personally select things they want to pass on. (For PDX locals, Northwest Children’s Outreach is an amazing organization where you can help distribute donations to local children in need.)

• Learn to live on less  - Teach your kids that you can survive without the latest and greatest gadgets and gear. As the old adage says: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

• Lead by example - Above all else, living a joyful and thankful life will be the best way to raise grateful children. Frequently express appreciation for all you have and eliminate envy and resentment from your vocabulary.

Research consistently shows that grateful kids grow up to be happy adults. So don’t let your attitude of gratitude sit on the shelf until next November. Continue to show appreciation for your blessings and your kids will catch the spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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