Tutu’s Corner

Ho`omaika`i

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

The Hawaiian value ho`omaika`i means to be grateful or thankful.  It is very important to teach the attitude of gratitude to our children. There are so many things to be thankful for: healthy children, gainful employment, food, a place to live, a happy family, friends, and good health in general. Peace, kindness, goodwill, to name a few. A little known secret about gratitude: the increase in blessings is proportionate to the increased gratitude that a person possesses.

At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we are thankful everyday to be able to bring such a wonderful program to our community. We truly appreciate the families who participate in this program with us. By modeling our attitude of gratitude through words and deeds, we hope that our keiki will begin to imitate, learn and practice.

Try this at Home:
•    Teach your children to say mahalo or thank you. Help them to appreciate things that are given to or done for them.
•    Model gratitude; let them see and hear you thanking others for their kindness.
•    Write or create thank you cards together when someone gives them a gift.
•    Know that it’s okay to not give your child everything that they ask for. Help your child appreciate things more by allowing them to work for, or wait for some things.
•    Let your child hear your daily acknowledgements of blessings, such as being thankful for their good health, rain, sunshine, etc.

Remember, children who learn to be grateful and appreciative will grow up to be adults who enjoy the fruits of gratitude: bountiful blessings.

Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation.  Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.