A Lesson on Gratitude from Thelma the Unicorn (Free Printable!)

In the story, Thelma The Unicorn by Aaron Blabey, the main character Thelma, wishes to be the unicorn she is not. This story is something I think children of all ages can glean some wisdom from. She goes on to try and be something she is not instead of taking the time to mindfully notice and be grateful for all the things she does have. Thelma goes on a journey to discover that all that glitters is not gold, and the things most important are the things she had at home.

Do you have a kiddo that has a hard time appreciating the amazingness in themselves or struggles with being grateful for what they have? This can be tough to help kids learn as a parent. We want our kids to reach, but we don’t want them to reach for things that are not fulfilling or that turn out to be fool’s gold. Consumerism is marketed to children, and youth are sold a fairy tale ending, but seldom shown the hard work and dedication it takes to get there.

We need to develop our unicorn parenting talent of making sure we teach our kids how much we value the intrinsic over the extrinsic. All the glittery, shiny new shoes, phones and games won’t fulfill us like having a good friend, knowing we show kindness and gratitude to others, trying something that is a challenge and succeeding and having the confidence that we can be depended on.

So why do we value the new and shiny so much?

It gives our brains a hit of dopamine, the reward neurotransmitter. The problem is that because that shiny new thing isn’t fulfilling a need in our life that will sustain us and support us long term, the hit wears off pretty quickly. We seek that rewarding feeling again, which in children can lead to a case of the gimmies, always needing more and seeking to find that brief feeling of reward.

But we can give ourselves a dopamine boost that sustains us when we practice gratitude and kindness that far outlasts getting a goody at the store. This dopamine hit builds our brain to look for more kindness and gratitude.

Thelma The Unicorn learned the hard way that all that glitters is not gold, and the truest form of wealth is the love and appreciation you have for those who matter most to you.