January 09, 2016

Quote of the Week

"I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks." --William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Three Reasons To Raise Grateful Kids

"In The Science of Gratitude, we report on studies suggesting how being grateful is good for your health, how it can strengthen your romantic relationships, why it’s important to the workplace, and much more.

I approached all of this research as a somewhat skeptical journalist. But I also examined it as the mother of a toddler. By the time we completed the project, the reporter in me came away with a newfound intellectual appreciation for gratitude; the parent in me came away with a new mission for my son.

I got the gratitude bug. In fact, I even bought my toddler a little puppet book, called Thank You, all about a puppy who keeps saying “thank you” at his birthday party.

What motivated me to buy a children’s book about gratitude? The answer lies in all the research I uncovered looking at the positive effects of gratitude on children--- benefits that serve them well at different stages of their development. It convinced me to raise a grateful child. Or at least do my best to raise one.

Here are the three key lessons I took away from my reporting on the science of gratitude, as a journalist and as a mother." [read more]

Reading Corner

Title: Buddha Doodles Gratitude Journal: Shining Your Light
By: Molly Hahn
Ages: 4+

Why? Put positivity into practice! A few of the many benefits of a gratitude practice include feeling happier, less stress, better sleep, and a reduction in negative emotions. Each page has a different Buddha Doodle with space to write what you're grateful for! --Publishers

Be the Change

Develop a family gratitude practice. At the end of each day, consider with your child, what is there to be grateful for in that day? Musing on positive things at the end of the day, focusing particularly on gratitude, is good for the body, mind, and soul. Studies show that a gratitude practice can transform your life.  See how a gratitude practice transformed a class here.

If a journal isn't your cup of tea, consider getting a blessing jar--a large container--to collect your appreciative moments. Simply write what you are grateful for on a slip of paper, fold it up, and toss it into the jar. Perhaps a new New Year's Eve tradition could be spilling out the jar and reading about all the wonderful moments that the year brought to your family.