Why is it important to teach your children gratitude?

Katie discusses research findings from Robert Emmons, the leading expert on gratitude. (Article is linked below).

The benefits of gratitude found in his studies are discussed within the episode.

How can we practice and teach gratitude to our children of any age?

1. We need to model living with gratitude. Katie share what that looks like
2. Utilizing gratitude journals
3. Asking yourself and your children: What is one good thing that happened to me today? What is one thing that you had today that someone else doesn't have?
4. How can you work this practice into your busy schedules? Katie discusses times of the day or parts of your daily routine where this practice of gratitude may fit in
5. Don't try to force your children to come up with ideas, you may need to prompt them or even give them ideas of what they could be grateful for (and that's ok!). In time, they will start to think of their own ideas- it takes practice.
6. Give it time- gratitude does not happen over night

Gratitude helps children realize that there is always goodness in the world despite what they are going through. It will help them during stressful times in their lives. Remember the benefits that it has, we need to work at it now so that it helps children to learn that mindset throughout their lives.

Gratitude takes intention, time, and consistency.

The article on Robert Emmons research can be found here:

Emmons, R., (2010). Why Gratitude is Good. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good