Posted on 11/22/2021 4:58:17 AM PST by devane617
As families prepare to celebrate a holiday focused on gratitude, many parents say their children aren't as thankful as they should be.
Four in five parents in a new national poll agree that children today are not grateful for what they have, with over half of parents worrying that they're giving their children too much and two in five saying they're even sometimes "embarrassed by how selfish their child acts."
But most parents do in fact want to raise appreciative kids, with three in four saying it's a high priority to teach their children gratitude, according to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at University of Michigan Health.
"Many parents may look back to their own childhood and, in comparison, wonder if they are giving their child too much in the way of material things. Parents may have watched their child behave selfishly, such as refusing to share with other children or saying they don't like a particular gift," said Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark, M.P.H.
"We know that gratitude is associated with more positive emotions, having strong relationships, enjoying more experiences and even health benefits," she added. "However, gratitude is not something that children usually acquire automatically; it needs to be nurtured, in an age-appropriate way."
The nationally representative poll report was based on responses from parents of children ages 4-10.
"Parents who place a high priority on teaching their child gratitude are more likely to report their children exhibit behaviors associated with thankfulness and a willingness to give to others," Clark said.
"While Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to give thanks, parents can teach and model kindness and gratitude throughout the year. Over time and through experiences, children will learn to be grateful for others and appreciate what they have."
Nearly all parents polled agree that it's possible to teach children to be grateful, but they used different strategies.
“It starts when you begin to overlook bad manners. Any time you quit hearin’ ‘sir’ and ‘mam’ the end is pretty much in sight… The old people I talk to, if you could of told em that there would be people on the streets of our Texas towns with green hair and bones in their noses speakin’ a language they couldn’t even understand, well, they just flat out wouldn’t of believed you. But what if you’d of told em it was their own grandchildren?”
“parents say children today aren’t as thankful as they should be”
Said every single generation of parent since the dawn of time, LOL.
When children have less they are more grateful for what they receive. I believe it is important to let them know they are not owed a gift unless they paid for it themselves.
And whose fault is that?
Teach your kids better.
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