Like most things, raising children that appreciate the presents they get depends a lot on how you react when given a gift. Make a point of thanking anyone who gives you a gift. If your child presents you with a drawing, or does something nice for you, thank them too, mentioning a specific facet of the item or action that you appreciate.
Teach your child to draw thank you cards from an early age, and help him or her to write notes later on.
Make sure that you praise your child for any good manners, or when he shows appreciation for things that he receives from others. Don’t try to preach, with statements like ‘you should be grateful for what you get.’ That rarely works!
Another good idea is not to spoil your child. If he’s getting everything he wants all the time, without any special occasion, then there’s no reason for him to appreciate presents, is there? Remember that even overindulged children, who get everything they want in terms of material items, can be starved of the one thing children need most from their parents – love and affection. So make gifts smaller, and only on special occasions, and you should find that your child appreciates them more.
Teach your child to draw thank you cards from an early age, and help him or her to write notes later on.
Make sure that you praise your child for any good manners, or when he shows appreciation for things that he receives from others. Don’t try to preach, with statements like ‘you should be grateful for what you get.’ That rarely works!
Another good idea is not to spoil your child. If he’s getting everything he wants all the time, without any special occasion, then there’s no reason for him to appreciate presents, is there? Remember that even overindulged children, who get everything they want in terms of material items, can be starved of the one thing children need most from their parents – love and affection. So make gifts smaller, and only on special occasions, and you should find that your child appreciates them more.
