- (and How to Actually Teach It Without Sounding Like a Fortune Cookie)
Here’s the thing: gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation of raising a helpful human being (and, let’s face it, a slightly less annoying one). That’s why it’s the very first lesson in my new book: “BE USEFUL: How to Raise Useful Human Beings”. Because if your kid can’t appreciate what they have, how will they ever understand you? (Or, more importantly, the person who invented coffee.)
Why Bother:
Science says gratitude makes us happier, healthier, and less likely to throw a tantrum in the cereal aisle. Every major religion is built around it. Therapists love it. Your grandma swears by it. But here’s the kicker: gratitude doesn’t just magically appear. It’s not like baby teeth or that weird smell in your minivan. It must be taught. Early. Repeatedly. Relentlessly.
Science says gratitude makes us happier, healthier, and less likely to throw a tantrum in the cereal aisle. Every major religion is built around it. Therapists love it. Your grandma swears by it. But here’s the kicker: gratitude doesn’t just magically appear. It’s not like baby teeth or that weird smell in your minivan. It must be taught. Early. Repeatedly. Relentlessly.
The Three-Minute Gratitude Hack:
I start every morning with a three-minute gratitude practice. (Yes, even before coffee. I’m basically a saint.)
Here’s how you can do it with your kids:
1. Ask them to name three things they’re grateful for.
2. Don’t let them say “my iPad” three times.
3. Celebrate the small stuff—like “I’m grateful the dog didn’t eat my homework.”
It’s free, it’s easy, and it works. Plus, it’s a lot less awkward than forcing everyone to hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.”
Make Gratitude a Verb:
Here’s the secret sauce: gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s about showing it. In our house, we pitch in. We help neighbors. We pick up socks that aren’t ours. We show appreciation by doing, not just saying. Because let’s face it: kids learn more from what you do than what you say. (If only they’d learn to put the milk back in the fridge.)
In a world where kids can summon a pizza with a swipe and ask Alexa to do their homework, it’s easy to forget how good we have it. But teaching gratitude is what keeps us grounded. It’s what carried people through wars, hunger, and TikTok trends. It’s the light that stays on when everything else feels dark.
Ready to Raise a Grateful (and Useful) Kid?:
If you want more practical, not-boring ways to raise kids who are grateful, grounded, and helpful around the house, you need the book“BE USEFUL: How to Raise Useful Human Beings” in your life. (And on your coffee table. And maybe in your bathroom for those “extended reading” sessions.)
Want a sneak peek?
Drop your email below, check out our website to pre-order the book, and I’ll send you my favorite gratitude activities for families—no fortune cookies required. Let’s raise a generation that says, “thank you” (and means it).
Because the world needs more useful humans. And fewer socks on the floor.
After reading this insightful blog, I would like to add… EVERY DAY focus on what you have and be grateful for THAT, instead of finding all the things that are not “just right” in the current moment. That is what I teach to my three kids in everyday situations…. mostly when they quarrel amongst themselves.