I am thankful, every day of every year, for having the chance to be on earth at the same time as Hillary Clinton.
All
humans are supposed to be creatures of habit, but children really
thrive on habit and routine—even when it appears otherwise! Children
deeply benefit from routines that establish healthy habits like regular
sleep, nutritious meals eaten around the dinner table, and an organized
home. This is because daily and family routines help children develop
the cognitive, emotional and social skills they will need to succeed in
school and beyond.
Researchers encourage establishing routines
with children from infancy for various reasons. Routines help children
learn that they can trust and depend on adults—a valuable asset for
emotional stability in relationships and an important way to establish
parent-child bonds. Meaningful routines—like the ones we practice as
rituals during Thanksgiving and other holidays—help children feel like
they belong to a community, and improve their social skills. Some research even suggests that children living in families with regular routines suffer from fewer illnesses, like respiratory infections.
Parents
and caregivers can help children establish healthy routines that have
direct and life-long benefits. For example, parents can read books with
their babies and young children at bedtime to help them sleep better.
Parents can also establish regular times of conversation, like around
the dinner table, to improve bonding and stimulate language. Finally,
parents and caregivers can use holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving to
instill a sense of tradition and history in the family.
Resources for Sharing:
- This article from the AAP explains how various routines throughout a child’s day can improve moods and benefit development.
- This article from Raising Children Network offers tips for how parents can incorporate routines and ritual into family life.
- A reminder that quality time can happen in short intervals—even for busy families!
Video
This beautiful video from BabyWorld shows how a bedtime routine will help your infant get the sleep his body—and brain—need. >>
Were
you taught to count your blessings as a child? Turns out, this is
important advice for young children and adults alike. While rituals like
Thanksgiving serve as a great opportunity to express gratitude within
families, new research is showing that teaching young children how to
express gratitude on a regular basis is an important skill that will
benefit them their entire lives.
According to a growing body of
research, there are many benefits to the social, emotional and physical
development of children when they are taught to feel and express
gratitude regularly. Psychologists have found that when people think
about the positive things in their lives—even while experiencing
stressful situations—they can increase their happiness, improve sleep,
and reduce anxiety. The benefits stem from brain hormones triggered and
released by positive thoughts. These “feel-good” hormones counter the
effects of the body’s stress hormones, which can harm developing minds
and bodies. Expressing gratitude on a regular basis can improve the
immune system, speed up recovery time and prevent chronic illnesses like
obesity and heart disease. Finally, the more positive a child’s
thinking, the more eager they are to learn and engage with others. This
improves their social relationships and encourages new connections.
This
does not mean that parents and caregivers should stop children from
expressing negative feelings or emotions. But parents can help young
children learn how to think positively and express gratitude by talking
about their own gratitude for the positive things and people in their
lives. Also, parents and caregivers can help young toddlers develop
gratitude by sharing books about thankfulness, and involving them in
activities—like delivering donated food to a food bank—that encourage
sharing and empathy for others.
Resources for Sharing:
- This news article from the Wall Street Journal explains recent research on gratitude, and how it benefits children and families.
- Tips, videos and other resources from Greater Good about why gratitude matters—and how to express it regularly!
- Ten ways to help children express their gratitude, starting now!
Video
This video for parents explains why teaching gratitude can improve health and well-being for their children, and themselves. >>
Here is what Hillary is thankful for today.
