FOTHF

We're in this together.

  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact us
  • Parenting On The Home Front
  • Operation Dandelion Kids
You are here: Home / Character / Teaching Gratitude: Needs vs. Wants

Teaching Gratitude: Needs vs. Wants

July 22, 2015 by Becky Leave a Comment

Share this:

FacebooktwitterpinterestFacebooktwitterpinterest

Gratitude is a character trait that parents can nurture in their child as young as four years old and as old as – well, a parent’s job is never really done, right? One way to help children and adolescents develop gratitude is to teach them the difference between their needs and wants. When a child begins to grasp this difference, he can move towards appreciating the things he has that meet his needs and recognizing other things as extras. Fun extras or yummy extras, but not necessary for a safe, healthy, and happy life.

Teaching kids to differentiate between their needs and wants often begins in preschool, is taught throughout their life, and typically gets highlighted around holiday times. As parents we know these life lessons can be taught any time. The following T-chart can be used to encourage kids to define for themselves the difference between things in their life they need to survive, stay safe, and be healthy versus things they want for other reasons. We have included basic needs and typical childhood wants. You can make this a family activity by completing your own needs vs. wants comparison and use it as a conversation starter to talk about gratitude.

Teaching Gratitude: Needs vs. Wants

Share this:

FacebooktwitterpinterestFacebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Character, Parenting

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe to our Newsletter

 

Copyright © 2023 · FamiliesOnTheHomeFront.com · FOTHF Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Centric Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in