Gratitude can be a difficult thing to teach but a vital lesson for children to learn.

Psychologists have found that people who regularly say thank you and remember to be grateful for things in their life tend to be happier and more optimistic.

They can’t say there is definitely a cause-and-effect relationship between gratitude and happiness, but counting your blessings certainly doesn’t hurt.

Teaching gratitude is something that should happen all year; however, the holiday season quickly can prove whether the lessons have been a success.

The good cheer of the holidays can disappear in a whirl of greed and gluttony. That’s true for all of us, young and old, but it’s especially apparent when children, the prime gift recipients of the season, act ungratefully.

No one wants to have the kid refusing to thank Aunt Betty for the hand-made sweater—or even worse, declaring it ugly. Yes, we want children to be truly grateful in their hearts, but let’s face it, we also want to avoid unpleasant scenes. Gratitude and politeness go hand-in-hand.