Learning begins at home.

Toddlers copy what they see. They absorb what they see and hear from us, their parents, their guardians. Now, one of the things that we should start teaching our kids is how to be grateful.

Saying “Thank you” is one good example of this.

Teaching them how to be grateful at a young age can do wonders for them. There’s no need to be ashamed of this! Saying “thank you” is such a nice way of showing how much you value the things that you have.

There’s no need for over-the-top shows of gratitude (although if this is your thing then there’s nothing wrong with it).

But what works best for me is a simple smile and a genuine “thank you.”

Those two words can mean so much when they are said the right way.

For one little boy, his mastery of showing gratitude to his mother is wildly impressive for a child of his age.

At only two years old, little Grey always makes sure that his mom knows just how thankful he is to receive what looks like some delicious home-cooked meals.

When his mom offers him a plate of food, his first response is always, “Thank you, Mama.”

And it’s not some disingenuous “thank you” either.

It’s the real thing.

You can see the gratitude in his face.

You can hear the appreciation in his voice.

And most importantly, his mother can feel his honest acknowledgment of her gracious acts.

Grey’s mother, Linda Meeker, told Good Morning America, “I definitely taught him. I think it’s very important to be consistent and repetitive. It’s the norm for him.”

So even though this isn’t something that he just picked up on his own, it is clear that he has mastered the skill of showing gratitude.

As a child, it can be easy to take for granted just how much time, effort, and money your parents put into raising you.

I know that growing up, I ate many home-cooked dinners that I failed to show any real gratitude for.

And you know what?

My mom never stopped cooking for us, even when her effort was underappreciated.

Obviously little Grey is too young to look back and analyze just how much his mom has done for him over the years but one day he will.

And I think if he sees this video of himself in the future, he’s going to be very proud that he was able to start showing true gratitude at such a young age.

Gratitude is something that all of us should practice more.

Because it is one of those rare and special acts that can benefit everyone involved. So, not only will the person receiving the thanks feel happier, but the person giving the thanks will feel better as well.

According to Harvard Health, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

So the next time that someone does something kind for you, take a tip from little Grey here and make sure that they know just how much you appreciate them.

Remember, a little bit of gratitude can go a long way.

See just how far it gets this little boy in the video below.

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Article Sources:

Good Morning America

Harvard Health

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By Jessica Adler

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Jessica Adler is a contributor at SBLY Media.