MID VALLEY ELEMENTARY CENTER
NOVEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER & IMPORTANT UPDATES
The month of November, with its cooler air and focus on togetherness, is a month that invites us to slow down, reflect, and express gratitude for the warmth in our lives. But what if gratitude became more than just a seasonal practice? What if we intentionally taught our children to appreciate life’s blessings year-round?
Gratitude goes beyond saying “thank you.” It’s a powerful mindset—a way of seeing the world that emphasizes the good, even in tough times. This perspective not only helps children feel happier in the moment but also offers long-lasting benefits for their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Here at Mid Valley, we agree that teaching gratitude equips children with skills that build resilience, fosters stronger relationships, and helps them find greater calm in their everyday lives. And as parents, you are in the perfect position to nurture this habit in ways that will set your children up for success in school and beyond.
The Power of Gratitude - What the Research Says
Gratitude is more than just a pleasant sentiment. It can be a powerful tool for enhancing well-being. Decades of research have demonstrated the benefits of practicing gratitude, both for adults and children.
In a landmark 2003 study led by Robert Emmons, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, participants who were assigned to list things they were grateful for experienced greater happiness, joy, and enthusiasm than those who were only asked to write about how they were feeling each day. The findings inspired a spate of additional research. To date, numerous studies have found that having a grateful outlook, “counting one’s blessings,” and expressing gratitude to others can have positive effects on emotional health as well as on interpersonal relationships. Grateful adolescents report higher life satisfaction and a greater motivation to improve themselves, according to a 2022 study in Emotion.
Research also highlights how transformative gratitude can be. Studies show that practicing gratitude improves mental health, enhances self-esteem, reduces anxiety, and strengthens social connections. Expressing gratitude is even associated with a host of physical benefits. Studies also have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduce depression.
Children who adopt a grateful mindset are often more optimistic, better able to handle challenges, and more motivated to collaborate with others. Even small daily practices, like naming three things they’re thankful for, can help children reframe their perspectives, reduce stress, and build optimism. Over time, these small habits can ripple outward, positively shaping how they interact with others and their environment.
Gratitude at Home
It doesn’t need to be time-consuming to teach your children gratitude. Simple, meaningful activities can weave it into your family’s daily life. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Gratitude Journals: Encourage your child to write or draw about things they’re thankful for each day. These journals can become keepsakes they’ll cherish.
- Gratitude Jars: Create a family jar where everyone adds notes about what they’re grateful for. Read them together at the end of the week or month.
- Thank You Notes: Help your child write notes to friends, teachers, or family members to express appreciation for kindness they’ve received.
- Acts of Kindness: Involve your child in community service or small gestures like helping a neighbor or sharing toys with friends, connecting gratitude with giving back.
What Role Can Parents Play in Teaching Gratitude
Looking to foster a better attitude toward gratitude among your kids? While the instinct may be to remind kids to say, ‘thank you,’ psychological research suggests it’s better to help children develop gratefulness by encouraging them to notice kind acts, and modeling gratitude as adults. As the grown-ups in your kids’ lives, you set the tone for gratitude in your household. Here are a few ways to model and reinforce this mindset:
- Talk About Gratitude: Share what you’re grateful for during meals or bedtime. Your openness will inspire your child to do the same.
- Celebrate Small Moments: Show your appreciation for everyday kindness, like when your child helps a sibling or completes a task without being asked.
- Encourage Reflection: When challenges arise, guide your child to find a silver lining or lesson, helping them see the positives in difficult situations.
- Model Gratitude: Say things like, ‘That hug makes me feel so good inside,’ or ‘Wow! You made that drawing for me? You really put a lot of thought into what I would like.' Letting them be the recipients of your gratitude can help them cultivate their own. It’s also an important way to helps kids develop social and moral awareness.
- Be Flexible: No parent is going to cultivate gratitude right every day, but if a kid wants to make a TikTok video to thank grandma for their birthday gift rather than writing a traditional thank you note, let them.
Final Thoughts
Amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays, instilling gratitude in our kids can be a gift that keeps on giving. This year, let’s look beyond the Thanksgiving Holiday as a single moment of reflection. Let’s use it as a starting point to nurture every day gratitude. By fostering this powerful habit, we can help children develop emotional intelligence and resilience while creating a more positive home environment. Gratitude is more than a seasonal tradition; it’s a lifelong skill that can help our children—and our communities—thrive. Together, let’s teach them how to embrace and share this gift year-round.
Veterans Program and Luncheon
THANK YOU VETERANS!
Student Video Competition
The winter season is here and so is the change of our attire. Now that Halloween has concluded, we will switch away from our spring and fall dress attire and over to our winter dress attire. Shorts are not able to be worn again until April and anyone wearing skirts, must now have leggings under them until the spring.
Please also be sure to send your child with a coat to school as they still have recess outdoors. Recess is only indoors if the real feel temperature is less than 32 degrees.
