5 Reasons To Teach Gratitude To Our Children
Obviously, there are more than five reasons, but these ones seem to be super awesome …
1.Gratitude Increases Levels of Happiness
Yes, it is true! Practicing gratitude daily increases our levels of happiness.
What do we all want for our children? Happiness! That is pretty much what all parents want. This is why I am so passionate about gratitude, because it shows my boys, that it is simply how you focus your thoughts, as to whether you are happy or not. If you focus on all the wonderful and amazing things that happen every day, how could you NOT feel happier.
2. Gratitude Helps to Foster Kindness
Studies show that if our youth experience gratitude, they are more likely to behave in a pro-social manner. That is to say, they are less likely to cause issues in our society. They are more likely to be out doing good, than be out causing problems, because gratitude fosters kindness. Kinder people are more likely to care about not only each other, but our environment too. Awesome!
3. Gratitude Helps Our Bodies
Yes, how flippin’ amazing is this! Studies show that happier people are 50% less likely to catch a cold virus … just wow! It also reduces anxiety and depression. Studies by Emmons and his colleague Michael McCullough suggest gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. It also encourages us to exercise more and take better care of our health.
The more and more I read and listen to people, including many scientists and experts talking about gratitude, and in turn happiness, the more it seems to be coming to light that they are a bigger factors than we ever realised with regards to our physical health.
4. Gratitude Helps Kids Feel Connected
Studies show that when 10-19 year old’s practice gratitude, they feel more connected to their community. Gratitude seemed to create a desire to want to ‘give back’ to their neighbourhood. How cool is that? What I find is that I am more connected with my boys simply by us all sitting down together to fill in our gratitude journals. We can throw ideas around about what we are grateful for and it seems so far that we appreciate each other more and it has become a very special family time.
5. Gratitude Shows Kids To Look On The Bright Side
Well, this is the part I love. Trying to teach my kids to be optimists. I want for them to see the good in most situations, so that when bad stuff happens in life, they will be able to overcome it a lot easier, and in turn be more resilient. I see far too many people who live in a state of negativity, constantly complaining or moaning about things when in reality they are really lucky. I want so much for my boys to see the best in life, because it really is AWESOME!!
For more research/studies about gratitude, you should check out Berkeley University’s – The Greater Good Centre … www.http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/