{"id":450,"date":"2017-12-08T15:16:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T22:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/?p=450"},"modified":"2020-11-30T10:01:11","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:01:11","slug":"holidays-4-ways-teach-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/holidays-4-ways-teach-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways to Teach Gratitude & The Joy of Giving"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often our holiday season is filled and busy, more busy, and very, very busy: parties, donations and charities, food prep, and finding the perfect gifts for family and friends.\u00a0 At the heart of checking off the lists, we know what the season is supposed\u00a0<\/em>to be about.\u00a0 But in all the craziness, what do our children see?<\/p>\n

At UDA Creative Arts Preschool<\/a>, we believe that the best part of Christmas time, and all of the holidays, are the presents we give away.\u00a0 We feel the greatest joy comes to children as we teach gratitude and the joy of giving.<\/p>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

A song we like to teach our preschoolers, called “The Very Best Part of Christmas Time,” composed by\u00a0Janeen Brady<\/a>, starts like this:<\/p>\n

The very best part of Christmas time, the very best part I know, it’s not the tree, it’s not the treats, it’s not the lights that glow. The very best part of Christmas time, I’ll tell you any day.\u00a0 The very best, happiest, part I know are the presents you give away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From what we’ve observed, children, by nature, have giving hearts.\u00a0 But we know what it’s like to hear the “I wants” every time you walk through the store.\u00a0 It’s easy for children to get “wrapped up” in the gifts.\u00a0 \u00a0However, the holidays are the perfect opportunity for children to learn how to give, how giving feels, and how to be grateful.<\/p>\n

Here are four simple ways to help you teach gratitude and the joy of giving to your preschooler.<\/p>\n

4 Ways to Teach Gratitude & The Joy of Giving<\/h2>\n

1- Ask What They are Going to Give<\/em><\/h3>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s so easy to ask, because we were all asked the same question: “What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?”.\u00a0 And as fun (or scary) as it is to climb onto the big man’s bright red lap and relay to him the wish list, try to shift the focus to what your child is going to\u00a0give<\/em> for Christmas.\u00a0 Gifts from young children don’t even need to cost money.\u00a0 The best gifts they can give come from their hearts and artistic hands.<\/p>\n

Instead of making a wish list, help them make a give list.\u00a0 As they make a list of the people they love, help them think of acts of service they can do for those people.<\/p>\n

2- Identify the Joy of Giving<\/h3>\n

Preschoolers are still identifying emotions<\/a>\u00a0that they feel.\u00a0 You can help them identify that warm glowing feeling they get when they give something by naming it joy.\u00a0\u00a0As they create or pick out gifts for family and friends, help them feel excited as they anticipate how the person will feel as they open the gift.<\/p>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

As parents, we can also model gratitude<\/a> in daily conversation.\u00a0 “Someone helped me put my cart away while I loaded the kids in the car today.\u00a0 That made me feel so grateful.” Or, “Someone dropped these cookies off on our front steps.\u00a0 How does that make you feel?”. Try spending a few minutes every dinner or tuck-in time discussing things you are grateful for that day.<\/p>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

And, as always, reading a book is a natural way to start up a conversation on the topic.\u00a0 Here are a few links to book lists on gratitude you can check out:<\/p>\n