Whether it is for a birthday party or a holiday celebration, young children are accustomed to receiving presents. While this is a fun way to celebrate an occasion, parents often express concern that their children will grow up always expecting gifts without truly appreciating them. As parents, how do we teach our children to be grateful for gifts they receive and excited about giving gifts to others?

Receiving: Keep your children’s age and development in mind as you head into a gift giving/receiving season. Remember that even if you focus on teaching your kids to say, “thank you” and laid the groundwork for showing genuine gratitude, kids can be blatantly honest. It is important, and can be helpful, to teach children that gifts are a person’s way of saying, “You’re special” or “I was thinking of you.” If your child understands that it is the thought behind the gift that counts, they will be more likely to show gratitude even for a gift they do not particularly like. Write thank you notes with your child, even before they can write one of their own, by asking them what they really liked about the gift. After you dictate the note, allow them to add some of their own “scribbles” to personalize it.

Giving: For children to experience the joy of gift giving, it is important for them to be part of the entire process. This helps them learn and appreciate how much thought goes behind a gift. Let your child help you decide on the perfect gift for someone on your list will it be store bought or homemade? Help them think about the specific likes and dislikes of that person and be intentional about choosing a gift. Invite your child to make a card or help wrap the gift, and then be sure your child is with you when you deliver it. Seeing the happiness that a gift brings to someone else is very rewarding, and children will learn how great it feels to give to others.

Most importantly, be a model for the behavior you want to see in your child, they are always watching. So, begin by receiving gifts with gratitude and giving gifts with thoughtfulness and intention. Your little one will soon be giving and receiving with the same genuine enthusiasm.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

– Mother Theresa