IN SEASON
What does Thanksgiving have to do with delayed gratification ? Rather than moving instantly from the excitement of Trick or Treating ( getting ) and the fun of Christmas ( getting ), taking time to focus on Thanksgiving ( giving ) helps children build their patience skills – to not only wait for the next time they get something but to spend time dwelling in the place of giving thanks for what they already have . It ’ s a valuable skill and another often unseen benefit of Thanksgiving .
Gratitude
An obvious benefit to celebrating Thanksgiving is in teaching children gratitude . We all want happy kids , and according to research by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley , people who practice gratitude feel considerably happier than those who do not . Some of my favorite gratitude-building habits and activities include :
• Keeping a gratitude journal with your child . Each evening before bed , write down what each of you are grateful for that day . Of course , this could just become a nightly chat rather than a journal . Either way , the habit of looking for things to be grateful for is a good habit to start .
• Make giving and volunteering a habit . Donate gently used toys and clothing . Take bags of food to the animal shelter . Serve with a local food pantry . Donate books to the library . There are plenty of opportunities to get your child involved in volunteering , and research also shows that volunteering enhances happiness !
• Have an attitude of gratitude yourself . After all , children learn most by watching what we do !
17