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Teaching Gratitude

20 ways to impart thankfulness to your children

By Kelly A Battles November 6, 2015
What are you thankful for this year? November is a time when Americans gather together with family or friends to celebrate. It’s the beginning of the holiday shopping season. So what will you spend this month doing? Why not celebrate all of the reasons why you are thankful this year! 

Download and print our FREE MacKid Military “Thankful” subway art. There are many things for which we military families are thankful, but our poster only lists twenty. From now until Thanksgiving, spend each day talking about one word from the poster.

Here are twenty different ways to spend November teaching thankfulness to your children:
  1. USA – Explain to your child that “united” means joined together. Clasp hands with your child and explain that two or more together are stronger than one.
  2. Service – We know that service means sacrifice. Get your children involved with service this holiday season: volunteer at a soup kitchen, or clean out the pantry of your extra cans and take them to the food bank.
  3. Liberty – Help your children understand the meaning of liberty. This website gives a great explanation you can use: foundersacademy.net/2013/explaining-constitutional-liberty-kids 
  4. Freedom – We understand the sacrifices made to ensure our freedom as Americans. Listen to the words of our national anthem with your children: HERE
  5. Love – Cut out a large heart from construction paper. Ask your child what he loves about your current duty station. Write the words on the heart and reflect on these throughout the month. Hang it on the fridge so you see it often. 
  6. Hugs – Give your child a great big bear hug! The security in being surrounded by a loved one’s arms is comforting to a child, especially during a deployment.
  7. Kisses – Do you know what a butterfly kiss is? Lean down and allow your eyelashes to flutter on your child’s cheek.  It’ll probably tickle, so be ready for giggles! Be thankful for the closeness you can share while your children are still young.
  8. Family – The family unit is so important to children who frequently experience change. Name one thing about each sibling and parent for which you and your child are thankful.
  9. Friends – As military families, we get to meet more new friends than anyone else! Why not try to make a list of all the friends you’ve made at each duty station. Most of us have plenty of Facebook photos of friends we’ve met.
  10. Home – Even if it’s base housing, home is wherever we are with our family. If you don’t have one already, make a “Home Sweet Home” sign with your child. This can become a special symbol of having a home that you hang each time you move! Here’s a really cute string art sign you can make: www.infarrantlycreative.net/home-sweet-home-string-art
  11. Life – We don’t take life for granted. Each time a deployment ends, we are grateful for our service member’s life. But that is a heavy concept to teach children. One of the most important things you can teach your children is that all life is precious and should be valued. 
  12. Honor – We think of honor when we see our loved one(s) in uniform. Let your little ones dress up in Daddy’s or Mommy’s boots! Look at the ribbons on the dress uniform and explain what they mean. Honor is something special; teach your children true respect and honor.
  13. Smiles – There’s nothing greater than the smiles when our loved ones come home from a deployment! Make smiling masks like these while you wait for your service member to return home: www.pinterest.com/pin/246009198373094880
  14. Memories – We are making memories for our families every day. If you have thousands of pictures in your phone, download them to your computer and create a digital scrapbook with your child.
  15. Justice – Our men and women fight for fairness, much like the superheroes your children idolize. Watch an episode of your child’s favorite superhero TV show or cartoon.
  16. Happiness – Happiness occurs when we are together as a family. If you are dealing with the separation of a loved one on deployment, pick something fun to do together today to bring some happiness.  Try an arcade, make a craft, see a movie, go to the park, or just go to the nearest fast food’s play area. Remember: you don’t need to spend money to create happiness.
  17. Facetime (or skype, or any real time video chat) – We are so thankful for a way to keep in contact with our family members who are deployed.  Make sure you schedule a face-to-face video chat with your child and either a loved one deployed, or a family member across the country.
  18. Laughter – Laughter is known as the best medicine. Be thankful for its healing properties. Take your child to the park today and swing until there’s laughter!
  19. Quality time – Many of the activities in this list involve quality time. Don’t miss opportunities to create memories. Your children will remember the quality time you spend with them.  Ask your children what they love to do as a family the most.
  20. Peace – Because of the sacrifice of our loved ones, we can enjoy life in peace. A dove is often a symbol of peace. Make a dove ornament for your Christmas tree this year like this one: www.christmasornaments.com/christmas-blog/index.php/handmade-dove-christmas-ornaments