Instilling Gratitude in Children - Day Care in Montessori
Children today get almost everything they ask for. The best birthday gifts to the best Christmas gifts. Have you wondered how your child will react if they get a modest gift? He might be so used to getting the jazzy presents that he might not be so grateful when he gets a modest one. Teaching your child to be grateful is one quality that he will need all his life. Our teachers at our Montessori day care make it a point to always instill gratitude in children under their care.
Experts say that still-developing children, gratitude can be a challenge. You might be able to train them to say €please' and €thank you' from a very young age, but true apprehensiveness and generosity take time and experience to blossom. By creating situations of gratitude at our Montessori day care, this important quality seeps into children quite easily.
During present making craft sessions at our Montessori day care, we help children understand the quality of a gift children make and give to one another. If a child's classmate has made her a beaded necklace, we point out how her friend has used her favorite colors and how her friend made her something that she always thought was cool. Do this often enough, and your child will understand €quality' over €quantity'. They will soon learn that it is the gift itself and not the value of it that deserves praise and appreciation. We also try to instill the same gratitude for actions done for one another, not merely material things.
We also encourage children to help one another during clean up times and meal times. We make them realize the value of help when a friend helps to clear up a mess they have made. Along with a thank you, there is gratitude felt for something someone has done for them. We see many children do special things for their teachers at our Montessori day care. When teachers show gratitude to these little children, the pride they feel makes them understand the value of gratitude better.
Always, always, always remember that you are the best role model for your children. It is easy to expect children to be grateful, or to say thank you and please to you. Ask yourself if you exhibit this behavior as well. Kids watch and ape adults the best. Do you thank your children for things they do for you at home? Do you show them your appreciation for simply being in your lives? In your daily interactions, do you always offer warm thank-yous to gas-station attendants, teachers, waiters - anyone who is helpful to you? You may think your child is not paying attention, but he is - just you watch!
Experts say that still-developing children, gratitude can be a challenge. You might be able to train them to say €please' and €thank you' from a very young age, but true apprehensiveness and generosity take time and experience to blossom. By creating situations of gratitude at our Montessori day care, this important quality seeps into children quite easily.
During present making craft sessions at our Montessori day care, we help children understand the quality of a gift children make and give to one another. If a child's classmate has made her a beaded necklace, we point out how her friend has used her favorite colors and how her friend made her something that she always thought was cool. Do this often enough, and your child will understand €quality' over €quantity'. They will soon learn that it is the gift itself and not the value of it that deserves praise and appreciation. We also try to instill the same gratitude for actions done for one another, not merely material things.
We also encourage children to help one another during clean up times and meal times. We make them realize the value of help when a friend helps to clear up a mess they have made. Along with a thank you, there is gratitude felt for something someone has done for them. We see many children do special things for their teachers at our Montessori day care. When teachers show gratitude to these little children, the pride they feel makes them understand the value of gratitude better.
Always, always, always remember that you are the best role model for your children. It is easy to expect children to be grateful, or to say thank you and please to you. Ask yourself if you exhibit this behavior as well. Kids watch and ape adults the best. Do you thank your children for things they do for you at home? Do you show them your appreciation for simply being in your lives? In your daily interactions, do you always offer warm thank-yous to gas-station attendants, teachers, waiters - anyone who is helpful to you? You may think your child is not paying attention, but he is - just you watch!
Source...