More Gratitude , Less Attitude BY AMANDA CIANI
The family is gathered around the Thanksgiving dinner table.You know the drill. It is time to go around the table and share what we are all grateful for, one by one! Looking around the table, everyone is on their best behavior and it is easy to be thankful for family. Realistically though, every day is not likeThanksgiving; sometimes kids lose sight of their gratitude and replace it with attitude. Luckily, with a little modeling and some hard work, gratitude can become a daily habit for kids (and their parents!). Benefits of Gratitude The turkey day exchange of, “What I’m grateful for….” produces a warm fuzzy feeling because expressing gratitude is a wonderful way to boost mental health. Good thoughts, such as gratitude, are contagious, one leads to another with a domino effect that can cause a complete shift in mindset. It is similar to when you buy a new car and
all of the sudden see that type of car on the road everywhere—when you are grateful and positive, you see goodness everywhere. Making an effort to put a focus on expressing gratitude can be a catalyst to an overall good mood! Beyond improving moods, gratitude and optimism are a dynamic duo that can even improve physical health. Negativity and stress go hand-in-hand with weakened immune systems and poor sleep. Continually getting bad sleep, feeling tired and sick can become cyclical and toxic.Take time to re-set your mind frame and start feeling better. Not only does a good thought turn into a good mood within an individual, being around someone with a positive outlook can be inspirational and motivational, too. Parent Positively Children are little sponges and they absorb quirks and mannerisms from
the people they spend time with most, including their parents. Parents who simply say “please” and “thank you” on the regular are paving the way for their kids to do the same. A good example can be set when interacting with service people, friends and family, too. Kids listen when you use your words, so choose them wisely—be vocal and express your gratitude often! Along with being grateful for those who are in our lives, it is important to express gratitude for what we have. If your kids are always saying their clothes and toys aren’t good enough, maybe do some reflection and ask where they may be getting that attitude. Is it a learned behavior? Voicing opinions on others’ bigger houses, nicer cars, and fancier trips does no good—it doesn’t make those houses any smaller, the cars less nice or the trips less fancy. Jealousy just leads to unhappiness within. Focus on enjoying
18 NOVEMBER 2025 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
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