Raising children

5 ways to teach your child to be happy

For many parents, growing happy children is the biggest success of parenting duty.

What makes a happy child who becomes a happy adult? Since happiness is a usual result of emotional wellbeing, each parent should understand how to make a fruitful environment for their children. Here are some directives how to create productive setting that leads to happiness:

1. Be a safe harbour, because when your kids come running home, they must be running to a safe place.

Hug your kids frequently and tell them you love them. And love them unconditionally. Give them the opportunity to tell you about their worries and fears. Don’t question their fears or be judgmental, because you have to develop relationship of trust with them.

2. Cultivate optimism and gratitude.

Teach your kids not to take things for granted. Every day appreciate good things that happened. That’s how you will create awareness about positive situations. Teach them to see that the glass is half full in every vague situation. Always confront negative self-talking such as „Nothing ever goes right“ to „Sometimes bad happens, but I will do my best in order to be better“.

3. Help your child find joy in little things.

The painted flower with various colors. The letter written to a grandma. The hopscotch with the friends. Everyday actions could be a reason for joy!

4. Give your child the chance to realize how good it feels to help others.

Collect old books and donate them to those who have less. Clean the yard in front of your building. Feed sparrows in your playground. Use every possible situation to show your child how to help others and he will become open-minded!

5. Don’t forget to be a role model.

Kids watch us carefully. If you want your children to be able to stand up for their values, you have to do the same. They need to hear explicitly, and to see you demonstrate, what matters most, so they learn that life holds huge abundance beyond achievement and accumulating material possessions.

As L. R. Knost says: „Children who are in stable, supportive, loving relationships with emotionally available and compassionate parents (or other close attachment figures) tend to grow into well-adjusted, generous, respectful adults whether they live with scarcity or abundance materially.” And: „It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.“