Give your child the gift of gratitude this holiday season

By Richard Cohen
Vice President, Education at Tutor Time (Hong Kong)

As the Holiday Season swirls about us, it is easy to get swept up in the commercialism and materialism of our society. In other words, if kids try to make send of the idea of “holidays” by looking at television, billboards, magazines or catalogues, they may come to think that the word ‘holiday” means ‘the day you expect everyone to give you the latest and best toys, games and enough candy and sweets to give you a tummy ache.”




Of course kids love the holidays as many of us certainly did, for the same reasons), but please take a moment to think about what this teaches your child. Many adults today are still saddled with those values, echoing across the years from our childhoods, driving our choices and behaviors as adults. As a nation we are often overweight, overspent and self-indulgent, looking toward the next purchase for a moment of happiness. If only I had that piece of cake, those shoes, that dress. . .then I’d be happy.

I’m just as caught up in it all as you may be. The commercialism and materialism of our society is hard to avoid. It’s like a river sweeping us all away when we’re not paying attention. Worse, it is so pervasive, it’s like we’re the fish in that river. . . and we don’t even know that there’s a powerful, surging current surrounding us, directing our movements at all times.

There is one thing I know for sure. . . I refuse to pass that along to our kids. If you agree, now might be the perfect time to start. Sure, give gifts to the people you love. Eat a little candy. But make “gratitude” the theme of your family’s season. Help your children remember what they have to be grateful for – a loving family, food on the table, caring teachers, music and art, sports and games – whatever brings them joy. Help them notice these things and find ways to express their gratitude – in a drawing, a song, a prayer, a hug, or just by looking into the eyes of someone to whom they are grateful and saying “thanks you.”

Create a culture of gratitude in your family by extending this “theme” throughout 2007 and for the rest of your lives. But remember what may happen when one fish turns and starts swimming upstream or searches for a calm eddy in which to be still. Most of the other fish, who think normalcy is found in the flow of the river, might think her rebellion a little bit crazy!

Oprah Winfrey often talks about keeping a gratitude journal. I’ve got one. It’s an incredibly rounding tool. It helps me remember what’s really important in life when that river of chocolate and cell phones and high definition televisions is trying hard to make me forget. Our children so desperately need us to remember this, especially when the world is filled with shiny temptations that might teach them otherwise.

Here’s wishing you and your family a healthy, joyous holiday season.

Gratefully yours,

Richard Cohen.