by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Teach Children to be Thankful

         Now that Thanksgiving season is here, thoughts turn to the question of how we can help children be truly thankful.  Children are often criticized for being ungrateful for what they have, yet many have not been taught to be appreciative of the many blessings that have come their way.  There are many things that come to them due to no effort on their part and they need to learn to be particularly thankful for such things. 

         It is not easy to teach any concept or internal feeling.  It is much easier to teach a child to read or do a math problem than it is to teach a child to have an internal feeling.  There are some things to keep in mind as we make an effort to help children learn to be thankful and to show that they are thankful.  One way to help a child learn to be appreciative is to always require that child to say thank you when something good comes along.  There are a few things we can do to instill an understanding of what it is like to do without some things children may take for granted.  In addition, as is in the case of teaching many things to children, example of behavior to pattern is a great teaching tool.

         Children need to be taught from an early age to say thank you.  Even toddlers can try to mimic the words if they hear them often enough.  When a toddler hands an object to a parent, the parent should respond by saying thank you.  Toddlers can be heard to make the sound of two syllables even though the words are not truly audible.  They are catching on to the habit of this nicety.  As the child grows older, he/she needs to be constantly required to say the two words whether they are truly meant or not.  This imbeds in the child a feeling of “I owe something to another for what they are doing”.  Children need to write thank you notes when they are able to do so.

         It has been said that “We never miss the water until the well runs dry”.  This seems to be true of all of us.  It is difficult for a child to be thankful when that child has always had something and knows no other way.  Placing a blindfold over a child’s eyes for a few minutes can help the child realize what it might be like to lose eyesight.  Earplugs in ears for a few minutes can have a similar affect in helping a child appreciate hearing.  Having a child use a walker, crutches, or cane causes a child to think what it might be like to be unable to get around as easily as usual.  These things can be done as a game.  Wise parents will point out that many people go through life challenged with inability to see or hear clearly or to get around easily.

During a storm when the electricity goes off, children can experience what it would be like to live without electricity.  Again, parents can step in and point out the fact that electricity has not always been available and how thankful we should be that we now have it.  

         If all adults patterned expressions of thankfulness, it would not be so difficult for children to learn this concept.  Too often we neglect being thankful to others and to our heavenly Father for the many blessings we have.  How sad it is that our Thanksgiving holiday seems to be getting “squeezed out” of our culture when it is one of the most important holidays of all.  We are commanded in the Bible to give thanks to God.  We have a choice to make as to whether we will obey that command and teach our children to do likewise.  Our world would be a much better place if we chose to constantly give thanks.