In the Virtues Guide the authors take you through a series of 'virtues' - good behaviour such as kindness, helpfulness, obedience, truthfulness and generosity - and give practical tips for how to teach these. There are 52 virtues included. If you are able to practice one virtue per week as a family then both parents and children can learn to re-shape their behaviour. There is nothing like trying to teach good behaviour to your children to help you improve your own conduct!
At the moment our 4 year old daughter is struggling to show gratitude for all the good things that happen in her life. For example, every day when she asks what will be for dinner, she responds with 'I don't like that' even when it is one of her favourite meals. Or, if we have had a lovely day out with lots of treats she will complain about the one thing she didn't have.
I'm sure this is all normal and no big deal, but I would still like to have the right approach to encouraging her to be more grateful. How can I teach her to appreciate what she has?
The Virtues Guide includes 'thankfulness' which speaks directly of gratitude. That section opens with the following explanation:
"Thankfulness is being grateful for what you have. It is an attitude of gratitude for learning, loving and being. Thankfulness is being glad for the special things which come along. It is also being grateful for the little things which happen around you and within you every day."
There are discussion questions to help you understand the topic, and a checklist to see how you are doing.
The virtues are taken from the positive behaviours encouraged by the major religions of the world. They acknowledge the role of a Creator in our lives.
So, my plan for this week is to prepare a little session for our family in which we look at the virtue of thankfulness and see how we can practice this in our lives. If you have any stories / games / colouring sheets / suggestions on this topic then please let me know!
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