It would be wonderful if these simple steps would encourage children to look for opportunities to thank and encourage those who regularly help us and minister to others at work, home and at church. It might serve as a reminder to all of us to take a moment to encourage and thank others.
2. Encourage those children who do say 'thank you'. This is something that happens easily while children are young. 'What lovely manners!" "I heard Susie and Jason saying 'thank you'. Nice to hear!"
Consciously, watch for older kids, too, who say 'thank you' and comment approvingly of this behaviour.
3. Regularly encourage kids to look for those who serve others, and to thank them. It's wonderful to set aside a special day of thankfulness and thanksgiving. It's really helpful to present a lesson on gratitude and thanksgiving. But don't leave it until those occasions to encourage kids to regularly look for others who, quietly and without fuss, are helping us.
Consciously, watch for older kids, too, who say 'thank you' and comment approvingly of this behaviour.
3. Regularly encourage kids to look for those who serve others, and to thank them. It's wonderful to set aside a special day of thankfulness and thanksgiving. It's really helpful to present a lesson on gratitude and thanksgiving. But don't leave it until those occasions to encourage kids to regularly look for others who, quietly and without fuss, are helping us.
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We have a kookaburra that visits us each day expecting to be fed. He perches high in the gum tree and waits. If I step outside, he sails down and lands with a thud in front of my feet. It's quite disconcerting! He doesn't make a sound. He just waits.
But a family of magpies also lives nearby and they, too, drop in occasionally. Magpies frighten many people. They do look quite fierce and they certainly snap up any snack offered to them. But there is something endearing about magpies that set them apart from kookaburras. They stay and say, 'thanks'.
But a family of magpies also lives nearby and they, too, drop in occasionally. Magpies frighten many people. They do look quite fierce and they certainly snap up any snack offered to them. But there is something endearing about magpies that set them apart from kookaburras. They stay and say, 'thanks'.
It reminds me of Judith Wright's poem, Magpies:
'......Their greed is brief; their joy is long.
For each is born with such a throat
as thanks his God with every note.'
How do you teach such joyful gratitude to children?
'......Their greed is brief; their joy is long.
For each is born with such a throat
as thanks his God with every note.'
How do you teach such joyful gratitude to children?
Here are 3 simple ways to encourage thankfulness both in your own children and the children within your children's ministry at church.
1. Thank others yourself. Children might not listen or obey but... they excel at copying behaviour.
As a toddler, my granddaughter developed a troubling cough. Her parents were very concerned until they realised that her cough was a duplicate of her mother's morning sinus cough. She copied her mother.
If you want children to be thankful, you must show thankfulness yourself. At home, and in your kidmin program, thank children for their help and involvement.
Make a point of thanking volunteers. Watch for opportunities to do so. Don't wait until the end of the term or the year. Involve the kids, too. For example, We have someone with us today who always stays behind to wipe down our tables. Do you know who does that for us? Let's bring him/her up the front and say thank you.
1. Thank others yourself. Children might not listen or obey but... they excel at copying behaviour.
As a toddler, my granddaughter developed a troubling cough. Her parents were very concerned until they realised that her cough was a duplicate of her mother's morning sinus cough. She copied her mother.
If you want children to be thankful, you must show thankfulness yourself. At home, and in your kidmin program, thank children for their help and involvement.
Make a point of thanking volunteers. Watch for opportunities to do so. Don't wait until the end of the term or the year. Involve the kids, too. For example, We have someone with us today who always stays behind to wipe down our tables. Do you know who does that for us? Let's bring him/her up the front and say thank you.
The FREE printable, a Thankfulness GPS found at the end of this article, can be downloaded and used to help kids search for and locate those who minister to others at church. it is best if you could print the two sheets/child onto heavier paper or light-weight card. Use it anytime. It doesn't have to be a special occasion.The idea is simple- the children are asked to locate various people from church who help us. The tasks are often out of the spotlight. The people involved might easily be overlooked by the kids. But they are people who are using their gifts and talents for others and the church would be the poorer without them.
The children need to find each person and have them sign their name on their sheet. They must also thank them and give them a 'Thank You' card. You'll find these cards on the second sheet of the printable. You might like to award a prize to any child who can find all those listed on the sheet and complete the entire activity.
The children need to find each person and have them sign their name on their sheet. They must also thank them and give them a 'Thank You' card. You'll find these cards on the second sheet of the printable. You might like to award a prize to any child who can find all those listed on the sheet and complete the entire activity.
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