Teaching Children About Gratitude

I had the awesome privilege of attending Oprah's Lifeclass in Toronto (me and 8,500 others!). Oprah and her team of teachers—Iyanla Vanzant, Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, and Bishop T.D Jakes—discussed Gratitude. It was an amazing experience to be a part of all the madness, excitement, expectation, and anticipation of an Oprah event! I just want to share a few of my takeaways and, more importantly, a suggestion on nurturing Gratitude in children.

• I have always heard Oprah speak about  keeping a Gratitude journal. She says, everyday write down 5 things that you are grateful for. If you're thankful for what you have, you'll end up with more!
• Life will stop in different places along the way. We need to be grateful for every stop and pay attention.
• Wherever there is appreciation, there is duplication.
• Gratitude is our response to the gift. We have been given a gift by God (i.e. whatever obstacle, hardship, disappointment, etc. that comes our way is a gift). Be grateful for the lesson of that experience. As difficult as it may be at the time, find the teachable moments.

These concepts are somewhat abstract, even for adults. So, how do you nurture or teach Gratitude in/to children?

The "simple" answer is to have them give something away—it can be a material item they love, they can give of themselves, a skill, a talent, their time, etc. This would be especially important for children who are in difficult family/socio-economic situations, who may struggle with finding anything to be grateful for. Have them give of themselves. Help a younger child develop a skill, volunteer, visit hospitalized children, etc. We all have something to give!

How do you nurture Gratitude in your children and your life? I would love to hear your ideas on Gratitude. Please leave a comment below.