ADVICE RATING |
 4.57 (Highly recommend) from 21 votes (825 Visits) |
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Teach your child to appreciate the gifts they get |
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by mrsbrown4701  (November 2006) (rank 227th) |
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The best way is to set a good example. When you receive gifts, show your appreciation. If your child makes a drawing for you or helps you, thank them and mention something specific that you appreciate about the gift or the help they gave. Teach them to say thank
you to others (and to draw or "write" thank-you notes), and praise them when they are polite, instead of just correcting them when they don't behave properly. When your child gets something from a relative and says thank you, tell them how much you liked their behavior and how wonderful and grown-up they sounded. Statements such as "You should be grateful for everything you have" don't really make people more appreciative. Preaching to children doesn't work, at any stage.
Another great way to help your child value their gifts: Don't spoil them. I know you may be tempted to shower your child with toys and other material objects, but overindulgence doesn't bring happiness and often leads children to be less appreciative of what they have. So when your child has a birthday, for example, give them just one or two toys instead of half a dozen, or opt for less expensive items rather than pricey "prestige" gifts. After all, what children need — and appreciate — most from their parents is time spent together.
