Work gratitude into your daily conversation: Try weaving appreciation for mundane things into our everyday talk. ("We're so lucky to have a good cat like Sam!" "Aren't the colors in the sunset amazing?" "I'm so happy when you listen!") When you reinforce an idea frequently, it's more likely to stick. One way to turn up the gratitude in your house is to pick a "thanking" part of the day. Two old-fashioned, tried-and-true ideas: Make saying what good things happened today part of the dinnertime conversation or make bedtime prayers part of your nightly routine.
Have kids help: It happens to all of us: You give your child a chore, but it's too agonizing watching him a) take forever to clear the table or b) make a huge mess mixing the pancake batter. The temptation is always to step in and do it yourself. But the more you do for them, the less they appreciate your efforts. (Don't you feel more empathy for people who work outside on cold days when you've just been out shoveling snow yourself?) By participating in simple household chores like feeding the dog or stacking dirty dishes on the counter, kids realize that all these things take effort.
Find a goodwill project: That doesn't mean you need to drag your toddler off to a soup kitchen every week. Instead, figure out some way he can actively participate in helping someone else, even if it's as simple as making cupcakes for a sick neighbor. As you're stirring the batter or adding sprinkles, talk about how you're making them for a special person, and how happy the recipient will be.
Encourage generosity: “We frequently donate toys and clothes to less fortunate kids,” says a fellow mom of preschoolers. "When my daughters see me giving to others, it inspires them to go through their own closets and give something special to those in need, as well."
Insist on thank-you notes: Write thank-yous for gifts. As toddlers, the cards can just be scribbles with an adults thank-you attached. As they grow, they became drawings, then longer letters. Younger children can even dictate the letter while you write. Just the act of saying out loud why he loved the gift will make him feel more grateful.
Be patient: You can't expect gratitude to develop overnight -- it requires weeks, months, even years of reinforcement. But trust me, you will be rewarded. You will be a grateful parent of grateful children.