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June 2-6 is WordGirl Appreciation Week, and that means five new episodes of the three-time Emmy Award-Winning series from Scholastic Media are coming to PBS KIDS (check local listings). Inspired by the May “Word of the Month” – “appreciate” – during Appreciation Week, “young viewers will join WordGirl, Captain Huggy Face and friends on exciting adventures around town as they fight crime and protect the innocent – correcting poor grammar wherever they spot it and introducing key vocabulary words all along the way.” To prep for a week of new adventures, here’s four helpful tips to aid in teaching kids just what “appreciation” means (something we need to work on here at Rock Father HQ).
Four Tips to Help Teach Kids How to Show Their Appreciation:
Manners matter! – Even a small gesture of gratefulness can really make a person’s day, whether it’s saying “thanks” or giving a heartfelt compliment. Have your child send a “thank you” note to show their appreciation for someone special. “Thank you” cards don’t just have to be for receiving gifts!- Adopt an attitude of gratitude! – Encourage your child to take the time to recognize what they appreciate by making a list of all the things and people they’re thankful for. Have them try adding something new to the list each week. Then, kick the gratitude up a notch by encouraging them to do a good deed every day such as walking a neighbor’s dog, offering up their seat on the bus or train or simply holding the door open for someone.
- Commit to giving back! – Make giving back to your community a frequent habit for your family. Volunteering is a great way to show you care, as is giving to a local charity. Engage your child in gathering up their old clothes, books and toys to donate. It will go a long way toward assisting others, while also helping your child learn to appreciate all that they have!
- Hand over responsibility! – Show your child what it feels like to be in someone else’s shoes for a while. Try roleplaying and let your child be the “mom” or “dad” for the day, assisting with some of your responsibilities. It’s a great way to help them develop a deeper appreciation for all that moms and dads do for the family each day!
Want more grammar goodness from WordGirl? Check out http://pbskids.org/wordgirl/
