What's so important about gratitude?

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Gratitude has many benefits. It has been proven to make people healthier, both psychologically and physically, while also improving interpersonal connection. (1) The work of Dr. Robert Emmons has shown that people with consistent gratitude practices experience less pain, sleep better, and live approximately seven years longer than average. They also experience emotional benefits, such as increased love, happiness, optimism, and enthusiasm and decreased stress and quicker recovery from stressful situations. Interpersonally, they are able to build mutually beneficial, reciprocal relationships, as they are kinder and more generous.

Despite all these benefits, studies have shown that children are not naturally grateful. (2) In fact, if all is going reasonably well in a child's life, they expect others to be kind to them and do not seem to give the kindness a second thought. On the other hand, if someone is mean to them, those people stand out, and children will expend energy trying to get back at them. In certain circumstances, we could see how this would be advantageous – the child sends a clear message that they will not tolerate being treated badly, and sets a boundary against that behavior. However, it is even more advantageous to be able to focus on those who have been kind, as this leads to enhanced relationships, and to all the additional benefits that gratitude has been proven to impart. And, so, we need to teach children gratitude.

How does this apply to your child?

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