The Secret To Raising Happy Kids

Every parent knows that once you’ve held that little person in your arms for the first time that your life has inexplicably changed and that nothing would ever be the same again. We all want what’s best for our children and most of all we want our children to be happy kids.

Here’s how to achieve your goal of raising happy kids:

The Secret To Raising Happy Kids:

1. Happiness starts with you

If you’re feeling happy and content, it will translate to your children plus you can better take care of them. The best way for you child to be happy and to know what happiness is, is to show them what a happy person is. Children look up to their parents to guide them in life. Practice self-love and invest in activities that makes you happy and your little one will soon follow suit.

2. Allowing them to be unhappy

No-one is happy all the time. Emotions such as anger, sadness or unhappiness are part of our daily lives. The more you teach your children to be comfortable with negative emotions, the sooner they will learn to enjoy and appreciate feelings of love and happiness. It is not easy seeing your child hurt and as a parent all you want to do is take that hurt away whether physically or emotionally. It helps to be emphatic. Explain to your child what you’re feeling. Don’t be shy to put your arms around him to console him when he’s feeling sad. And there’s nothing wrong with shedding a few tears yourself.

3. Investing time in them

Instead of showering them with gifts all the time, rather spend valuable time with them. There’s nothing wrong with spoiling or rewarding them with stuff every now and again, but make sure you’re also investing time in them and not just material things.

4. Appreciating your child’s uniqueness

Appreciate that every child is unique, and they all have little quirks and interests which may be considered foreign or weird to other people and even to us. But as a parent it is our job to let them know that we love and accept them just the way they are, everything included, which will help teach them self-acceptance.

5. Learning to say no

Your child will often hear the word no when they grow up. When you’re always agreeing, you’re not doing them any favours. No-one likes a spoilt child that acts out when he doesn’t get his way. When a child hears the word no at home in a safe environment among people who love him, it will prepare him for when he starts going to day-care or school. And his teacher may thank you for not having to deal with a temper-tantrum after she said no to him for whatever reason. Children who become accustomed to receiving everything they want, may become discontent over time and start measuring their happiness based on material things they receive.

6. Teaching your child, the meaning of gratitude

Practicing gratitude is more than just saying the words, “thank you”. Research shows that people who practice gratitude are happier people in general. Being grateful for the small things in life and teaching your children the significance of practicing gratitude can help prepare them in becoming well-mannered and decent human beings one day. Constantly remind them about all the things we need to be thankful for and not to take everything for granted. Particularly when you explain to them about how many people go without a roof over their heads, a warm bed or food to eat.

7. Helping them to become independent

Kids like to figure things out for themselves and feel a great sense of accomplishment when they’ve managed to over come a problem on their own. When children are given appropriate challenges from a young age, it teaches them to become self-sufficient and independent and not having to rely on their parents to solve every problem they encounter.

8. Teaching them the value of money

Let you child do chores for pocket money and let them buy their own things. Not only will you teach them the value of money but also to appreciate things more that they’ve bought with their own money. This way you’ll also prepare them for grown up life one day when they will be working and paying for their own things.

9. Working in unison with your spouse

A stable home life depends largely on Mom and Dad work together to make things at home peaceful and a happy place to be. Life at home has a significant impact on a child. Be consistent as well and make sure you and your partner are on the same page.

It is more important to focus on raising happy kids if you and your partner are no longer together. Divorce does not mean that you no longer work together as parents, it mean you need to work even harder.

10. Helping them appreciate the worth in character qualities

It is wonderful to praise them on their physical abilities but it’s even better to point out to them the value of certain character traits like kindness, humility and gratitude. These are the things that really make a person special.

11. Teaching them how to do good to others

True happiness come from putting the needs of others before your own and nothing beats the feeling of being able to give rather than receive. Raising happy kids means raising kids that are kind to others.

12. Being mindful of your words

Be mindful when you speak to your kids. We often say something which comes out the wrong way which can be damaging to our children’s self-esteem and self-worth. Instead of calling your child naughty, rather say that what they are doing is naughty. Explain to them why you’re upset with something they did instead of lashing out and leaving it there.

Conclusion

We as parents are not perfect. We make mistakes all the time. Being mindful of our behaviour and teaching them valuable and useful principles for life can shape our children into being happy and fulfilled children. Spend time with each other. Enjoy dinner around the table as a family and communicate. Ask them how their day was before reading them a bedtime story and let them know that you love them all the time, no matter what they do. Forget about other people and how they think you should raise your kids and follow your own instincts for raising happy kids.