6 Secrets to Raising Appreciative Kids

Does your child constantly ask for more, leaving you wondering how to teach them to value what they have? Are you afraid of raising a child who feels entitled? This episode holds the key to fostering gratitude and appreciation in your children, setting them up for lifelong happiness and contentment.

Parenting expert Camilla McGill and her guest, Nicole Thompson, author of Little Things: Finding Gratitude in Life's Simple Moments, reveal six powerful strategies to encourage gratitude in your kids while reducing entitlement and materialism.

Drawing from their personal experiences, they emphasize the importance of being role models, staying positive, limiting materialism, encouraging acts of kindness, discussing daily positives and negatives, and looking beyond the initial thrill of new toys.

They also address a listener's question about dealing with a child's constant desire for new things and the importance of teaching kids the value of what they have through boundaries and positive reinforcement. The episode offers valuable insights and practical tips, especially relevant as the festive season approaches.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Be a Role Model: How your own attitude toward gratitude can inspire your children to follow your lead.

Stay Positive: The subtle ways parents unintentionally model negativity and how to change it.

Limit Materialism: Practical tips to create boundaries around excessive gift-giving and impulse purchases.

Encourage Acts of Kindness: How to catch and reinforce small gestures of kindness to make them part of your child’s daily habits.

Focus on the Good: A simple conversation starter to teach kids to reflect on positive moments in their day.

Go Beyond the Initial Thrill: How to emphasize experiences over material possessions and help children value what they already have.

Resources for Parents:

Grab 24 Acts of Kindness a Free Guide with simple ideas your kids will love: MyParentingSolutions.com/kindness

Nicole Thompson’s tools and guides: The Fulfilled Classroom

Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The Challenge of Raising Appreciative Kids

00:26 Meet Nicole Thompson: Author and Parenting Expert

02:04 Secret 1: Be a Model of Gratitude

05:32 Secret 2: Stay Positive and Mindful

09:21 Secret 3: Limit Materialism

14:09 Secret 4: Encourage Small Acts of Kindness

18:04 Secret 5: Discuss the Good and Bad of the Day

22:22 Secret 6: Look Beyond the Initial Thrill

27:28 Question of the Week: Handling Materialistic Behavior

31:59 Conclusion and Resources

Transcription

Six Secrets to Raising Appreciative Kids — Full Transcript Version

Why Gratitude Matters

We’ve all been there when our kids nag us to give them stuff or seem totally unappreciative. We think, "You've got so much and all you do is nag me for more. I do so much for you, and yet when I ask you to tidy your toys or put your clothes in the laundry basket, you moan and say no."

You're going to love today's episode, Six Secrets to Raising Appreciative Kids. My guest is Nicole Thompson, author of Little Things: Finding Gratitude in Life's Simple Moments. You’ll love the tips we give you, especially as the festive season approaches and "I want, I want" is even more prevalent.

I’ve worked on instilling gratitude and appreciation since my four kids, now adults, were little. I haven’t been perfect, and nor are they perfectly appreciative, but the secrets we're sharing today will give you practical ideas and inspiration for your family.

We all fear raising teenagers and young adults with a sense of entitlement, so I urge you to work on this. At the end, we’ll also answer a listener question about handling a child who constantly wants more.

Introduction to Nicole Thompson

Camilla: Nicole, I’m thrilled to have you here today. I love your books, blog, products, and your outlook on life. Maybe you’d like to say a little more about yourself?

Nicole: Thank you, Camilla. I’m very happy to be here and grateful you reached out. I’m a teacher and a mum to two children, ages 13 and 14. Like you, I’ve tried to instil gratitude in my children so they grow up happy and authentic. But kids are kids, and we all see the "I want, I want" side. It’s very normal in our materialistic world.

Secret 1: Be a Role Model

Nicole: When you're grateful, say it out loud. Show your kids. For example, "I love the smell of the air right now," or "The birds are singing." Bring their attention to things they might not notice. I keep a gratitude journal where my kids can see it. They sometimes write in one themselves.

Camilla: And you mentioned nature walks. I wish I’d done more of that! It’s about embracing little things that bring joy. It doesn’t have to be expensive outings — popping popcorn for a movie night or enjoying the changing seasons can become family traditions.

Secret 2: Stay Positive

Camilla: We can unintentionally model negativity. Complaining about people or circumstances teaches kids to do the same. I remind parents to moan to other adults, not in front of children. When kids moan about others, like saying someone is bad at football, I encourage empathy and understanding instead.

Nicole: My daughter gets frustrated when teammates don’t try. I acknowledge her frustration but remind her it’s just a school game.

Secret 3: Limit Materialism

Nicole: We limit buying things to special occasions. My kids don’t ask for toys when we’re out because they know we rarely buy things outside of birthdays or holidays. It teaches them to value what they have and think carefully about what they truly want.

Camilla: My adult children now save and work for what they want, which gives them a sense of achievement. Saying no in the short term teaches valuable long-term lessons.

Nicole: We focus on experiences instead — family game nights or themed dinners. My kids remember those, not the toys they got.

Secret 4: Encourage Small Acts of Kindness

Camilla: Catch moments of kindness and reinforce them. Even small gestures matter. If children resist, explain the impact of their actions. "When Grandma receives your card, it will fill her heart with love."

Nicole: My son once gave away all his sweets to a friend who didn’t receive any. That kindness was a proud moment.

Camilla: Small acts create a ripple effect.

💡 For more ideas, download my free guide: 24 Daily Acts of Kindness

Secret 5: Talk About the Good and the Bad

Nicole: We do "Rose and Thorn" at the dinner table, sharing the best and hardest parts of the day. It builds connection and helps children reflect on positives even when things aren’t perfect.

Camilla: It fosters resilience and helps kids bounce back from challenges. Focusing on the good can even improve sleep and confidence.

Secret 6: Look Beyond the Initial Thrill

Camilla: Help children recognise how quickly the excitement of new things fades. Point out toys they once desperately wanted but now ignore. Approach it empathetically, not critically. Talk about the short-term thrill versus lasting joy from experiences.

Nicole: I encourage saving money rather than spending impulsively. It teaches children to prioritise meaningful purchases or even charity.

Listener Question: "My child always wants more. What can I do?"

Camilla: Focus on who your child is, not what they have. Teach them that friendships shouldn’t be based on possessions. Discuss what thrill they get from collecting things and whether that feeling would truly last.

Nicole: Be willing to say no and stick to your boundaries. Don’t give in to tantrums. It may be tough short-term, but it teaches resilience and healthy limits.

Camilla: It’s okay if they’re upset now — you’re doing it for their long-term well-being.

Resources Mentioned

• 🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode

• 📘 Nicole’s books and journals: The Fulfilled Classroom

• 💌 Download your free 24 Daily Acts of Kindness

Thank you, Nicole, and thank you to everyone for listening!

Warm wishes,
Camilla McGill
Parenting Coach & Founder of My Parenting Solutions