Teaching Your Child To Be Grateful

Of late – the teenagers coming to me for consultations have been bringing their diaries along for me to read.
They feel I will understand them better if I read what they have written – and that is absolutely true. It helps me tremendously.
Most of them write to vent. Which is excellent.
What I ask them to add to this – is a line or two about what they are grateful for.
So – I say – start with one line about what you are grateful for.
And end with another line about what you are grateful for.
The brain always remembers the bad things that happen to us more – because this helps in survival. That is how we learn – not to touch hot things on the gas and not to turn corners too fast when we drive.
When we write a gratitude journal – we bring the good things that have sunk to the bottom of our memory pile – right up to the top – and that makes us happy instead of afraid.
Teenage is a tough time and I love I that teens nowadays know when they need help and ask their parents to take them to someone who can help. I also admire the parents who without hesitation bring their children in for consultations.
Mental health is becoming a priority. I love that.
#parenting #WhatParentsAsk #DrDebmitaDutta