Teaching Kids to be Grateful for Gifts

Teaching kids to be grateful for gifts can be a challenge sometimes!

Giving gifts to our children for Christmas or birthdays is a ton of fun  — until you start hearing things like “I don't want this!” or seeing one gift hurriedly tossed aside while they ask “What else do I get?”

As much as we try to teach our children to be grateful for what they get, there is definitely a learning curve and they don't always get it the first time around!  So if you're doing these things and they're still acting like spoiled brats, don't be discouraged.  Keep at it, and gratefulness will begin to form into their character where they exhibit it on their own.  Their heart attitude — not conformity — is the goal, and that takes time.

Below are some things we have done with our children around Christmas or birthday time to help them learn to be thankful for what they receive.  All of these require learning to place others before themselves.

Disappointing gift?  If they've learned to put others first, they can refrain from making rude comments that would hurt the giver's feelings.

Expecting more presents?  Learning to put others first means they learn to put their focus on what they can give to someone else instead of what others can give to them.

1. Prepare them ahead of time.

I hate it when we go to a family gathering and I realize I haven't talked to my children ahead of time to remind them to say thank you when someone gives them a gift and to keep the “I don't like this!” comments inside their head.  I try to remember to talk to them before gift opening time so they can be prepared to respond appropriately when given a gift.

2. Have them say thank you.

Even if you forgot to remind them ahead of time, make sure your children say thank you for every single gift they receive.  Stay nearby while they are opening gifts so you can make sure this happens.

3. Have them write a thank you note.

Besides saying thank you verbally, have your children write a thank you note after the fact.  For very young children, you can write the thank-you note for them and have them sign their own name.  The note should include some reason they like their gift, and if they honestly don't like it, help them think of a way to express gratefulness anyway.  (“I'm so glad you were thinking of me!” or something similar.)

4. Do not allow complaining.

If you ever hear the “I don't like this!” comments coming from your child, deal with it immediately.  Pull your child aside and remind them that gratefulness is a choice.  Encourage them to focus on the positive.  (“Maybe that gift from Aunt Sally was disappointing, but let's think of something for which to be thankful.  You have a lot of people in this room who love you very much.  Things will wear out or you'll get tired of them, but a family who loves you is priceless.”)

5. Focus on giving; not getting.

At Christmas, keep the focus on what they can give to others; not on what they're going to get.  When they've carefully thought of others, the excitement shifts from opening their own presents to watching others open theirs.

6. Open presents slowly, savoring each one.

Rather than allowing a free-for-all, paper-ripping frenzy, have your children open gifts one at a time.  This keeps things quiet enough where they can say thank you for each gift and to pay attention to it long enough to be glad for it even if that's the only thing they get.

7. Don't make the presents the main thing.

Make the fun of Christmas or birthdays be the other activities that bring your family together.  The presents are just a bonus!

8. Address displays of ungratefulness and praise good efforts toward being grateful.

After the presents have all been unwrapped and the celebration is over, sit down with your child and have them think about their behavior.  “You told Aunt Sally thank you for the sweater she got you, but you threw it to the side and busted into another gift before you'd really even looked at it.  Do you think that was really being thankful?” or “I know you were disappointed that you didn't get the gift you were hoping to, but you still chose to be thankful for what you got.  Good job!”

When you do these things year after year, your children will come to understand that they need to be grateful for every gift they receive.  It's okay to be disappointed if something isn't exactly what you want, but you can still make a deliberate choice to be grateful for it anyway.  It's not about pretending; it's about truly recognizing all the good things we do have.  If someone gets you something really nice — fabulous!  If someone gets you something not-so-nice — it's okay!  You can still be polite and say thank you, recognizing that they gave you a gift because they love you.

Let's train up a generation of less entitled kids and more grateful kids!

Last Minute Gift Idea for Mom or Grandma

Need a last minute gift for mom or grandma?  Here is one that she will love!

Personalize, print, and frame!  So easy, but so meaningful!

To make your own, just right-click and save the image below.  Then use a photo editing program to insert the names of your family members.  (Picmonkey is free if you don't have your own program.)

Here’s How to Get a Free Healthy Living Bundle

There was a Healthy Living Bundle available back in the fall that had over $1000 worth of resources at a huge discount. I buy every single one of these bundles because they're just really, really great. (This one includes some amazing eBooks, an essential oils eCourse worth $100, and some free products like a glass straw, beeswax lotion and lip balm, and herbal formulas from Trilight Health — it's so much fun!)

I just found out that they're bringing the Healthy Living Bundle back for the New Year to help you reach all those goals you're going to set. And here's the best part — you can get your bundle free with just a teensy bit of work!

Yup. All that stuff I mentioned (and a lot more) can be yours completely free.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Enter your info here to receive a free 4 day challenge.
2. As soon as you enter your info, you'll receive a link that you can share with your friends.
3. Share the link and if 10 of them sign up for their free 4 day challenge, you get a free bundle worth over $1000. How hard is it to get somebody to sign up for something free?! (Hint: not hard. Especially if you tell them the same thing I'm telling you — that they can refer 10 of their friends and get themselves a free bundle.)

Lots of people took advantage of this last time around, and got their free bundles.

So go!  And enjoy!

Homeschool Adventure Giveaway

We're wrapping up the final day of the 12 Days of Homeschool Giveaways with a bang!

Our sponsor today, Homeschool Adventure – Engaging Resources to help your family cultivate and defend a biblical worldview, is giving away a HUGE prize pack containing one of each of the following resources.

DO YOU NEED to teach advanced writing and speaking skills?

DO YOU WANT your students equipped to discern truth as ungodly messages bombard them?

DO YOU WONDER how to cover all they need academically as well as practically?

Philosophy Adventure™ may be your solution!

Philosophy Adventure™—Pre-Socratics helps students 6th-12th grade cultivate and defend a biblical worldview by teaching them how to write skillfully, think critically, and speak articulately.

It can be used as a stand-alone curriculum or with other resources, including:

• Creative Freewriting Adventure
• The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions
• Philippians in 28 Weeks
• Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal

Creative Freewriting Adventure bring joy and excitement into your student’s writing with simple-to-execute (yet significant) writing exercises. No prep required. Just grab a pen and paper, set a timer, and have fun!

The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions enchants readers while it contrasts the ugliness of pride, selfishness and conceit with the beauty of humility, sacrifice, and compassion. By offering students 16 to 24 literary analysis questions per chapter, it teaches critical thinking in a way that is engaging and transformational.

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal is a powerful tool to strengthen critical thinking while cultivating a biblical worldview. A companion to Lewis’s classic work, the Journal can be used for independent study with teenagers or adults, or as a group study in families, homeschools, co-ops, classrooms, Sunday school, and small groups.

It is easier to share the Word of God when it is etched upon your heart.

Philippians in 28 Weeks™ is a delightful and painless way to commit the entire book of Philippians to memory. Five simple steps create a streamlined approach with memory cards carefully constructed to present Philippians thought-by-thought, copy work verses, journal questions, weekly reflections, recitation charts to test your retention, and an optional tracking tool called “The Log.”

Wouldn't you LOVE to add these resources to your homeschool library? If so, use the rafflecopter below to enter. Open to US residents only. All entries will be verified. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If no, response is received within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

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Marriage Advice to the Woman in a Good Marriage

I've not written a whole lot about marriage here.  Most — not all, but most — of my posts are borne out of whatever I'm personally reflecting on at the moment.  A lot of that has to do with the struggles of motherhood. That is something that is immensely more difficult than I ever imagined!

But marriage has never been all that difficult.  We're not perfect, but it's not something that my husband and I struggle with.  He's a good man!  We always seem to be on the same wavelength, so arguments…I mean, disagreements…are not something that frequently occurs.  It's pretty smooth sailing between the two of us most of the time, therefore I've never felt like I had a ton of stuff to write about from personal experience.

But yesterday I realized I had an important message to share.  To myself first of all, then to all the other ladies who are living in a non-difficult marriage.

So here it is: Marriage Advice to the Woman In a Good Marriage

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“Why is he so grouchy?” I wondered.  “He's usually only grouchy when he has a headache, and I don't think he does today.”

I began to ponder what the problem could be.  Before too long the light bulb went off.  Stress!  My husband is under a lot of stress!  And what have I been doing to help him?  Pretty much nothing.

When you're married to a good man, it becomes easy to start expecting him to be a good man.  I mean, that's just what he does. He helps me with the laundry, speaks tenderly and lovingly to me (and tries to understand my crazy womanly ways!), and plays with the kids.  He works hard to provide for his family, keeps things repaired around the house, and serves at church in whatever ways he can.

He does all of these things faithfully.  He's so good to me and the children; I couldn't ask for a better man!

But I've taken it for granted.

I haven't needed “marriage advice” because we don't argue.  We try to serve one another in the home.  We understand each other.

But there are some things I've neglected to do this for this wonderful man of mine.

1. Pray for him faithfully.

It took some stress in his life for me to realize that I've not been praying for my husband like I should.  But my husband needs God's power and protection on his life when times are tough and when the path is smooth.  I shouldn't have waited until he was under pressure to pray for him.  I should be praying more than just “help my husband to have a good day”.  I should be fervently praying.  Satan wants to destroy the lives of God's children, and that includes my husband.  (One of my contributors came up with a printable prayer calendar for your husband if you'd like to use it for some ideas of specific things to pray.)

2. Thank him.

It's easy to start taking for granted all the things my husband does.  But I don't like to be taken for granted.  Sure, it's my job to clean the house, make the meals, and take care of the kids all day.  But that doesn't mean it's not hard work.  And I sure do like it when my husband thanks me for supper and gives me some recognition for the hard work I've done that day.  I'm sure some appreciation shown to my husband for the hard work he does for our family would be an encouragement to him too.

3. Encourage him.

Words of appreciation would be encouragement in and of themselves, but I can also let him know I'm praying for him, jot down words or verses of encouragement, and be excited for him when he has a great day at work.  (I can also be ready with a shoulder massage and sympathetic ear when he's not had such a great day.)

4. Help him.

What can I do to take some of the load off his shoulders?  Is there a responsibility around the house that I'm capable of taking care of?  Sometimes I can't think of anything to do, so I simply ask him, “Is there anything I can do for you tomorrow?”  Often he will have something that he's happy for me to take care of that I didn't even know he needed to do.  Sometimes it's an errand to run, sometimes a bill to pay — little annoying things that hang over his head, especially when he's super busy at work and feeling the pressure of getting it all done while still having time to spend with his family.

Dear friend, even if you have a great marriage, there is always room for improvement!  What can you do for your husband today?

Win 2 Levels of Phonics from Pearson Homeschool!

Here we are on Day 11 already! We may be winding down, but we still have a few awesome giveaways left, including this one from Pearson Homeschool!

Phonics Homeschoolers Trust

MCP Phonics

Choose the phonics program homeschoolers have trusted for over 50 years. MCP Phonics develops alphabetic and phonemic awareness, the language skills young learners need to become fluent readers.

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• ✔ Flexible lessons at your own schedule

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To see the rest of the 12 Days of Homeschool giveaways, click here.