“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. – Frederick Keonig Quotes”

With Holiday season coming, the wish list starts building up. Sometimes, even we (grown ups) find it hard to prioritize our cravings & wishes. Everything looks so tempting at times. Somehow we try to convince ourselves saying ‘not now’. But with kids, especially young kids, its little challenging. They think since it is the holiday season; party time, so Gifts are a part of it. They find it hard to wait for another year.Words like ‘Contentment’ and ‘Delayed Gratification‘ doesn’t exist in their dictionary. I have discussed about delayed gratification briefly in one of the old posts. Kids often think that having more will make them happy. But, as a parent we want them to understand this concept of delayed gratification and being content. Right? Starting this at an early age will be the key to them being a content adult. How to teach our kids to have a heart of gratitude (a key ingredient in learning contentment) and contentment itself?

Here is what I feel….

• Value the things: It’s not about replacing old stuff with new. But it is about taking care of your existing things. I am very thankful to my grandmother for teaching me the importance of valuing every small thing. She was very particular when it would come to taking care of your stuff whether it is clothes, dress, and books. And that helped me in understanding the importance of this trait. It not only increases the life of that particular object but also it becomes your second nature.

• Be thankful to God: We are truly blessed to be born in the global era where technology is at our finger tips. We actually can’t ask for more. But,contrast happens: more we get, the desire keeps on growing. Today, from Day 1 after our child is born, we start capturing the precious moments; we plan for yearly vacation at an exotic place. Teach them to value these small things. Teach them to count their blessings.

• Satisfaction does not mean to stop dreaming: There is no harm in dreaming big (that’s how we grow) but when it the dream becomes expectation and more than that a need or a must-have thing, then that’s a problem. We will never be satisfied, content. We will always keep on running behind something…It won’t be a motivator for us to keep us moving any more.

• Show them a broader picture/Give them a broader view: Explain your child that not everyone in this world get what they are getting. Help them in understanding the other side too. That doesn’t mean that your dinner table should be filled with talks about less-fortunate people. Take them to the Donation store; let them donate their toys, books etc.
  

I know this topic has many more points that can be discussed but I tried to consolidate them in these above points. If you have to share anything or way to teach kids about contentment, do share them with other parents…