The Importance of Giving Thanks
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, being thankful is at the top of everyone’s minds. While it is great that the holiday season inspires a giving spirit, gratitude is important all year around. At our Catholic school in Titusville, we work to instill real life values while providing a top-notch education. Help us teach your child the importance of being thankful in times of celebration, and the lessons will carry over to more difficult moments.
Teach the Lessons
Make gratitude fun! Let your child decorate a gratitude jar, then have her write what she is grateful for on paper slips to put in the jar. Have your child write thank you notes when receiving gifts. Remind her how it feels to be thankful and express gratitude, especially when it’s not easy. When finding the good is challenging, dig deeper to help her find it. By asking your child for the bright side, you allow her to think critically about her emotions.
Be the Example
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Show your child what gratitude looks like with your own actions. Start by thanking God out loud for the gifts you receive throughout the day, not just at dinner time. Comment on the little moments that make you smile. This will help your child notice and appreciate the moments in her own life. Compliment your child for using good manners and for doing well in school to remind her that you appreciate her. Bring your child with you to volunteer or put together donations for those in need. This will remind her of what she has and help her appreciate others who have less.
Reap the Benefits
Teaching your child to live with gratitude can bring you closer to each other and to God. Giving thanks to God for all of life’s joys will help you and your child appreciate life as a whole. Your child learns to embrace the present, rather than worrying about the future or living in the past. Thinking positively, especially during difficult times, helps lead to positive actions. While we work to instill gratitude in our students at school, we encourage you to continue the lessons at home.
With over 57 years of academic excellence, St. Teresa Catholic School — a Catholic school in Titusville — provides a quality education that challenges and empowers students to develop to their full potential. Students foster qualities that are essential for lifelong learning and are equipped for future success. To learn more about why St. Teresa is the perfect fit for you and your child, contact us today.