Research suggests the first seven years of a child’s life are spent absorbing the behaviors, norms, and rules that will later become their “operating system” for life.
It should come as no surprise that the ‘age of chinuch‘ is by the age of seven, according to most opinions. Interestingly enough, Aristotle said, ‘Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.’
One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is a home filled with gratitude. A home where parents thank each other, thank the children and thank God for the abundant kindness given to the whole family.
Additionally, gratitude can be enhanced with a few enjoyable bonding activities.
- Bedtime Review. Bedtime is a great time to review the positive experiences of the day and sets the tone for a good night’s sleep.
- Journaling. Parents can jot down and/or review the bedtime gratitude review. This promotes a feeling of security and comfort before going to sleep.
- Drawing. Most children love to draw so why not give them the oppotunity to draw what they’re grateful for? They can draw in a special spiral notebook, on individual sheets of paper or even a big sheet of poster board tacked to the wall. Get creative!
Although the said “operating system” may be in place by seven it’s not etched in stone and can change over time. In fact, it’s never too late to increase gratitude in the home.
Yitzhak Sasson 