Kindness: 30 ideas to learn to give thanks

When children are small, especially before age 6, kindness is achieved through the repetition of acts because they have no capacity to understand the deep reasons of education and good manners; when they have the habit it will be easier. Precisely, learn to thank it is achieved through the repetition of acts of kindness on multiple occasions of the daily life of children.

And it is a pleasure to see the parents about to burst with joy when their little one, when giving him a candy in the bakery, lets go spontaneously and fun: "Thank you, ma'am! "The old ways are not outdated and words like "please and thank you". From small, we can teach our children to show kindness.

Kindness in action: 30 ideas to learn to thank

These are some situations that, sure are going to repeat several times in the life of your children and in your family day to day, they can help you teach kindness to your children and so learn to thank. 

1. Teach you how to save the turn in the queue of the bus or order the time in the supermarket.
2. If you are sitting on the bus or subway to look for if some older person is standing.
3. Keep a candy for the little brother or for the parents, when they give him several.
4. When we visit that he is the one who shows up by the telephone.
5. Give a kiss to dad and mom at night when going to bed, wishing you good night.
6. Draw a picture to congratulate the saint, the birthday, The anniversary of dad, mom or a family member or friend.

7. Teach him to choose the smallest piece of fruit, to leave the other to a brother or dad and mom.
8. Pick up some paper from the floor with it, even if you have not thrown it.
9. Ask for help sometime Saying: "If you want, you can help me ...", leaving him the opportunity not to.
10. Ask him the movie tickets.
11. Let him between him to the bread shop to make the message, while you wait outside.
12. Invite a friend or cousin to watch a video and let him choose him.
13. Give him the money to throw in the brush.
14. That the order be changed with a brother or sister.
15. Play the invisible child with him: when he behaves badly to play we do not see him.
16. Take part of the purchase home.
17. Let him be the one to invite Uncles on his birthday.
18. Go out to dinner one day with the children to put good manners and kindness into practice in a different environment.
19. Buy a book in which kindness and courtesy are encouraged.
20. Afternoon storytelling: play an afternoon to invent stories about situations and characters that have to do with kindness.
21. Ask kindly for water, bread ... on the table.
22. Call before entering in the room of a brother who studies, even if the door is ajar.
23. Say "how delicious is the food" when we go to the aunt's or grandmother's house.
24. Holding the door while the other siblings pass, dad or mom.
25. Ask with a smile and please a lemon to the neighbor.
26. Then return it saying thank you again
27. Thank a brother when he plays with something that has left him.
28. Please ask for the toys or other objects to the brothers before using them.
29. Return the pencils or paints we ask the brothers with the sharp tip.
30. Partner with him to surprise dad or mom and make him the bed on Sunday.

Tips to teach to thank children

- Take advantage of any opportunity to catch your son by surprise being kind or delicate. For example, you can say: "You made Aunt Sara feel really good when you told her how delicious the dinner had been."

- Encourage them with great praises every time they show signs of concern for others. For example, when we approach a piece of fruit we must make sure to always say "Thank you", with a big smile.

- Not only can you teach your child to say "thank you", you can also color beautiful drawings to express your gratitude to friends, etc.

- You have to show kindness with works instead of with speeches: "Bring the bread tray to Mom, just like I brought it to you."

- Prepare your child in advance of situations: "What do you think you should say to your friend when they invite you to their birthday party for the first time?"

- Gently incite kindness. In a restaurant, take a look from time to time with your child and show him, if necessary, how to properly take the napkin to his lips.

- Place your child, since he is small, near the table at meal times, so you can feel part of the family group and see the courtesy in action.

With a deck of cards you can play with him to the game of please and thank you. How? With a deck of cards it is about making pairs asking the letters to the companions, always with a "please"; If they have it and they give it to us, we have to respond with "thank you". The turn is lost if we forget to say "please" or "thank you" or if the partner does not have the letter we asked for.

Ricardo Regidor
Advice: Lucía Herrero. Psychologist and family counselor

More information in the book: Educate in gratitude. How to teach to appreciate the positive of life. Authors Jeffrey J. Froh and Giacomo Bono.

Video: Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful!