By Dr. Lesly Devereaux
There are many things that you can do to teach your grandchildren how to show gratitude in daily life and Dr. Lesly Devereaux would like to offer the following tips to grandparents:
- Show your grandchild how to find items in your home that you no longer use. Take your grandchildren to look in the basement or attic for those hidden treasures. Make sure the items are in good shape, let your grandchildren wrap them in decorative paper and offer as a gift to someone that is in need.
- Encourage your grandchild to donate toys. If you have grandchildren who have outgrown their toys but left them in good shape take them to visit a children¹s hospital and let them give their toys to a sick child. This is a great way to put a smile on the hearts and faces of sick children.
- Let your grandchildren collect food. Have your grandchildren call their aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends, ask for usable canned food, gather as much as they can and donate the goods to a food bank. There are many individuals who will benefit from the gift.
- Show your grandchild how to show a senior love. Winter holidays can be a difficult time for seniors. If old enough have your grandchild offer to run errands for a senior that you know needs help.
- Teach your child how to encourage a friend. During the holidays it is easy to fall into a slump. Lack of finances and strained family relations can get a person down. Teach your children to be an encourager; offer daily compliments, share funny stories anything to help the person focus on something other than their personal issues.
- Let your grandchild send a note to a friend. There are people who have been a blessing in your grandchildren¹s life; encourage them to send a note of thanks with words of appreciation.
- Take your grandchild to volunteer. There are so many non-profits looking for help in any way that they can receive it. Set up time for your children to volunteer at a homeless, shelter, food bank, social service agency.
- Teach your child to use their natural gifts. If they like to cook, allow them to make a meal for someone who may be ill and can¹t cook on their own have your children deliver or serve the food. If your children draw and do it well, have them draw a picture and give it to someone who needs to be uplifted. Teach your children how to ask for donations from people and designate a place that the money will go.
Dr. Lesly Devereaux, former New Jersey Commerce Commission Chief of Staff is also the author of Breaking Codependency: How to Navigate the Traps that Sabotage Your Life. This book shares her story as her mistakes are exposed and she goes from wife, mother and well-respected judge to jail.
Dr. Devereaux is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law, and both her Masters and Doctor of Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. www.leslydevereaux.com
