Empowering Your Child's School Journey with Gratitude

Last night, as I tucked my 8-year-old into bed, I cherished the moments we share during our bedtime chats. It's our special time to delve into his feelings and the challenges he faces in his young life. However, when he expressed his unhappiness at school, it broke my heart as a parent.

In that moment I did validate his feelings and let him know I heard him and then encouraged him to focus on the things that bring him joy. Reflecting on my response, I wondered if it was the right approach or if it was enough. How tough is it as a parent dealing with these conversations on the fly?! I knew that I follow this advice in my own life. If something brings me happiness and serves my highest good, I embrace it. If not, I let it go.

However, as adults, we have more control over our circumstances than children do. We can change jobs if we don't like our workplace, and we have coping mechanisms to navigate difficult social situations. Children, on the other hand, have limited control and fewer tools to deal with such challenges.

As parents, we understand the challenges our children face in school, especially when it comes to literacy, and these challenges can leave our kids unhappy and feeling powerless. It can be disheartening to see our kids struggle. However, there's a powerful tool that can help them overcome these hurdles: gratitude.

I decided upon reflection of our conversation that I could show him how to practice gratitude and give him this powerful tool to have in his back pocket for when things get tough. So I did a bit of research and I want to share it with you today in case you think this is something that you and your child might benefit from too. 

In this blog post, let's explore the transformative power of gratitude for children experiencing difficulties with literacy and other difficulties. Let's look at how to set up a gratitude journal and explore how to integrate gratitude into the nightly bedtime routine.

Understanding Gratitude.

Gratitude is not just about saying "thank you"; it's a mindset that helps us appreciate the world around us. Focusing on gratitude can bring remarkable changes. By shifting our attention to the positive aspects of our lives, children can develop resilience and a hunger for learning.

Keeping a gratitude journal offers several benefits. It helps to cultivate a positive mindset and promote overall well-being. By regularly writing down things you are grateful for, you focus on the positive aspects of your life, fostering feelings of contentment and appreciation. This practice can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and enhance mental health.

Additionally, a gratitude journal allows you to reflect on the good things that happen each day, even small ones that may go unnoticed. This helps you develop a greater sense of awareness and mindfulness, leading to increased happiness and satisfaction. It can also improve your relationships as you become more attuned to the kindness and support you receive from others.

Maintaining a gratitude journal encourages self-reflection and personal growth. It allows you to recognise patterns of gratitude and identify what truly brings you joy and fulfilment. This insight can guide you in making choices that align with your values and priorities.

How can we explain this concept to kids? It seems a lil' deep.

Here are a few ways to explain gratitude practice to your child.

Happy Seeds: Compare the gratitude journal to a garden where they plant happy seeds. Each day, they write down things that made them happy or thankful, just like planting seeds. As they water and nurture their happy seeds by writing in their journal, they will see their garden of happiness grow.

Treasure Chest: Tell your child that a gratitude journal is like a treasure chest where they can collect and keep all the wonderful things that happen to them each day. Just like a treasure chest holds valuable treasures, the journal holds their special moments and things they are thankful for.

Puzzle Pieces: Describe the gratitude journal as a puzzle that they can fill with pieces of gratitude. Each entry is like a puzzle piece, and when they gather all the pieces by writing down what they are grateful for, they can see the bigger picture of their happy life.

Whether you use happy seeds, a treasure chest or puzzle pieces, these analogies will give your child a framework to help them understand how this practice can help them in their lives and build intrinsic motivation to keep it up. 

Setting Up a Gratitude Journal with your child.

Here's how you can set up a gratitude journal together:

Choose a Special Journal: Let your child pick a journal that resonates with them, making it uniquely theirs.

Daily Gratitude Entries: Encourage your child to write down three things they are grateful for each day, no matter how small. It could be a kind word from a friend or the joy of having their favourite meal for dinner that night.

Reflect and Relish: If it feels right, encourage your child to elaborate on their gratitude entries, explaining why each item brings them joy. This reflection helps deepen their appreciation.

Bedtime Gratitude Ritual: Set aside a few minutes each night to share and discuss gratitude entries. Create a cosy atmosphere where your child feels comfortable expressing themselves. Make sure you keep your own gratitude journal too and model the behaviour for your child. 

The Impact of Gratitude on Literacy and Beyond

Practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on children struggling with literacy and other difficulties. By embracing a grateful mindset, children shift their focus from their challenges to their strengths and the positive aspects of their lives. This newfound perspective enhances their self-esteem, resilience, and motivation to overcome obstacles.

Moreover, gratitude creates a ripple effect. As children become more appreciative of the opportunities they have, they develop a genuine hunger for learning. They approach literacy tasks with a positive attitude, knowing that each step forward is a cause for celebration.

It's not going to solve all of the problems but it is a step in the right direction and a great tool to use along side other strategies that you have in place for your child. 

So, as parents, let's take the time to nurture gratitude in our children's lives. Let's encourage them to appreciate the small wonders and the big achievements. By equipping them with the transformative power of gratitude, we empower them to navigate difficulties with resilience and embrace a brighter future.

Remember, teaching gratitude is a journey that unfolds over time. Be patient, be consistent, and most importantly, lead by example. Together, let's cultivate a generation of grateful and resilient individuals who can conquer any challenge that comes their way.

With gratitude (see what I did there?),

Kristy xo