Photo: Choreograph (Konstantin Yuganov) / iStock / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Getty Images
For little kids, the holiday season is all about presents they want, Santa and maybe Christmas cookies, but it turns out, most of their moms and dads are also helping them focus on being grateful. A new survey of 2-thousand parents of kids ages six and younger finds that nearly all - 95% of them - believe it’s important their child is thankful for what they have.
According to the poll, they’re starting early to help them with this appreciation. Parents believe that kids should start saying “thank you” and understand what it means at age two, on average, but 34% start teaching it by their child’s first birthday.
- More than three-quarters (79%) say it’s been easy to instill a sense of gratitude in their child and 60% say it’s even easier to do during the holidays.
- Parents say their kids are learning this by creating cards or homemade gifts (53%), donating their toys or belongings to someone in need (50%), or helping a neighbor or loved one by keeping them company or carrying groceries (47%).
- As a result, 92% of parents feel proud of their child for how they treat others around them.
- To model gratitude, moms and dads “pay it forward” (62%), return the favor when they can (60%), and send thank you messages (58%).
The survey also had parents ask their kids what they’re most grateful for and their unfiltered responses include heartwarming things like Mommy and Daddy, siblings, and pets, plus some unexpected items:
- “Chicken dino nuggets”
- “Spider-Man”
- “Folding laundry”
- “Wrestling”
- “Potato chips and M&M’s”
- “My tablet and my dead fish”
- “Everything in the entire world, except mosquitos”
- “Dinosaurs”
- “Turkeys, Aunt Rinny, Toys, Jesus, Squishmallows, Food”
- “I’m thankful for Elsa’s yellow hair”
Source: NY Post