Growing into Gratitude
11/23/2019
This week in Early Kindergarten we spent a good deal of time talking in simple terms about the Pilgrims and Native Americans, reading lots of silly turkey books, and doing the “Turkey Tango” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH5RWY1nm-I), but we also spent time each day talking about gratitude. Some of our favorite books! Young children are naturally egocentric and selfish – it is simply part of human development. But inside every child are also the seeds of kindness and amazing generosity. Anyone who has received a fistful of dandelions or has had a slightly crumpled masterpiece of scribbles thrust at them with a big grin, has seen the glimmer of these emergent traits. How those seeds are nurtured in the early years can have a profound effect on the way in which these virtues develop in a child’s life. Helping a child develop an attitude of gratitude is an important part of this nurturing. A sign hanging in my sister’s house proclaims, “Happiness is not getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you have.” In other words, experiencing joy has a great deal to do with the focus of our lives. Having this mindset can be a difficult thing at times, but I still believe it is a true saying. So how do we help children begin to turn outward from their naturally self-centered perspective and begin to be more grateful? I believe that gratitude begins with noticing. Parents and teachers can help children recognize the many, many good things in their lives. Other ideas which may be helpful to you can be found in a wonderful article entitled "12 Tips for Teaching Children Gratitude" found at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Community/Pages/12-Tips-for-Teaching-Children-Gratitude.aspx. No matter which of these ideas or others which you choose to implement in your family, your persistence will pay off, and ultimately you'll be richly rewarded for your efforts! Have a wonderful break with your families!
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Melissa SmithMs. Smith has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught kindergarten for many years. Alaska has been home to Ms. Smith for 28 years, and she can't imagine living anywhere else! She has four children, a dog and two cats. She loves reading, camping, gardening, and genealogy! Archives
April 2021
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