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Gratitude: A simple trick to turn your kids’ attitude around in 60 seconds (or your own)

Posted on November 23, 2011

child thank youMy kids have this natural ability to whine and complain. It must be a gift because they’re so good at it and I haven’t given them one lesson on it. (Or perhaps it’s in their genes, since I seem to exhibit the same ability and don’t recall being taught how to do it either)

Give them one cookie and they whine when I say no to a second. Let them play a video game for a half hour and they complain when it’s time to turn it off. As them to clean up their rooms, do their homework, or eat some vegetables and sometimes you’d think I’d asked them to carry 50 pounds of manure up a 10 mile hill.

When that happens, I often do a quick little exercise with them. I say:

Name 5 things you’re thankful for.

I did this so many times it started to become cliche in our house and my children started whining about the exercise. So, I started to mix it up for fun… Tell me 4 things you’re thankful for that are red. Tell me 6 things you’re thankful for that are sticky. It can be pretty silly at times.  Or it can be more serious… Tell me 3 things you’re thankful for that aren’t things.  Tell me 5 people outside our family you’re thankful for.

The point is that it takes their focus away from what they don’t have and reminds them they have much to be thankful for.

And guess what…

It works for adults too.

The next time you feel like whining about traffic, your job, your struggles, what someone else has that you don’t… name 5 things you are thankful for.

When have you seen gratitude turn around your children’s attitude?  Or your own?

7 thoughts on “Gratitude: A simple trick to turn your kids’ attitude around in 60 seconds (or your own)”

  1. BethMcKamy says:
    November 23, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Great post and great ideals, right on a kids level.

    I think my favorite would be, “What am I thankful for that is eatable! 🙂

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    1. Paul says:
      November 23, 2011 at 10:56 am

      I like that one too, Beth! 🙂

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  2. Name (required) says:
    November 23, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    Lol Paul, my kids sound just like yours… except for the veg, they love veg!

    Great idea!

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    1. Paul says:
      November 23, 2011 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Mark. That’s good for you. One less battle to fight. 🙂

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  3. Joe Pote says:
    November 23, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    Love it! Great idea.

    I often do this for myself, and have sometimes required my kids to say “thank you” for something they were whining about.

    I like the idea of requiring kids to think of 5 things for which they are thankful.

    Thanks for posting!

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    1. Paul says:
      November 23, 2011 at 6:46 pm

      You’re welcome. And thanks for commenting!

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  4. Pingback: Ain’t No Sunshine « Bedouin Fire

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Thanks for visiting. I'm Paul Steinbrueck - husband, father of 3, founder of OurChurch and Skyway Web Design. I love to learn, take on new challenges, and help people become more than they ever thought possible. Read more about Live Intentionally and subscribe below to receive email updates.

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