Thank God We Can Raise Grateful Kids

In an "I, Me, Myself" world, how do we raise grateful children?

Christine Carter, director of the Greater Good Science Center Parenting Program at UCBerkeley, said: "The list of the benefits of gratitude is so long "it's almost ridiculous," Carter says. "People who are consciously practicing gratitude sleep better, have more energy, and feel more connected to other people." One study has even proven that kidney function improves when people practice gratitude. And the good news is that it's contagious. "If I'm feeling strong positive emotion, and I'm sharing that with somebody," Carter explains, "those emotions spread person to person" through the whole family," according to time.

The steps to raise the gratitude meter may sound easy, but they could make you a bit frazzled. Let's feel grateful that we can look for some tips, sometimes!

Here are a few guideline from mindbodygreen.

Cut back on some luxury items for a month: Perhaps kids think that they are entitled to everything they have---smartphones, TV and Air conditioning. Stop them for a while. Cut back, and make them feel grateful. They would most likely feel some empathy for those who have nothing.

Service: You could teach them to venture into service maybe once a month. Sit with them and talk about the service you could render to society. Would you like to visit an orphanage? Clean up the park?

Be positive: Look at the silver lining in everything. Maybe it's raining heavily---but isn't that a fun way of commuting? Working on weekends helps to bring in more money.

What ifs: Throw them in. What if you had to stand in line for a meal? What if you were homeless? What if you were ill and could not afford to visit a hospital? Tell them how lucky we are to get some good opportunities our way.

Keep throwing in the thanks: You need to be the role-model to your kids, by thanking everyone who helps you to get through the day. The ticket checker, the waiter and the grocery man.....

Happiness: Announce how happy gratitude can make you feel. Count three things out loud that you're thankful for, making it part of your daily routine.

Shift your approach: Stop saying "I have to..." and start saying "I get to..."

Instead of saying "I have to clean up the house" you need to say "I get to make the house cheerful and happy." Instead of "I have to go to work" you could say "I get to drive towards an interesting day."

Teaching gratitude is even more fun! Especially as it boosts their self-esteem and self-worth-and yours too, in the bargain!