Some great tips and reminders in this article by Eric Barker feature in Time, we had to share...
When you ask parents what they want for their kids, what’s usually the most common reply? They want their children to be happy
Via Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents:
Now there’s tons of info on raising smart kids and successful kids, but how do you raise happy kids? Sometimes it’s hard to balance what’s best for children with what makes them happy — but the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Happier kids are more likely to turn into successful, accomplished adults.
So looking at the science, what really works when it comes to raising happy kids.
Step 1: Get Happy Yourself
The first step to happier kids is, ironically, a little bit selfish.
How happy you are affects how happy and successful your kids are — dramatically.
And this is not merely due to genetics.
So what’s the first step to being a happier you? Take some time each week to have fun with friends.
Step 2: Teach Them To Build Relationships
Nobody denies learning about relationships is important — but how many parents actually spend the time to teach kids how to relate to others?
(Just saying “Hey, knock it off” when kids don’t get along really doesn’t go far in building essential people skills.)
It doesn’t take a lot. It can start with encouraging kids to perform small acts of kindness to build empathy.
This not only builds essential skills and makes your kids better people, research shows over the long haul it makes them happier.
Step 3: Expect Effort, Not Perfection
Note to perfectionist helicopter parents and Tiger Moms: cool it.
Relentlessly banging the achievement drum messes kids up.
The research is very consistent: Praise effort, not natural ability.
Why? Dweck explains: “When we praise children for the effort and hard work that leads to achievement, they want to keep engaging in that process. They are not diverted from the task of learning by a concern with how smart they might — or might not — look.”
Step 4: Teach Optimism
Want to avoid dealing with a surly teenager? Then teach those pre-teens to look on the bright side.
Author Christine Carter puts it simply: “Optimism is so closely related to happiness that the two can practically be equated.”
She compares optimists to pessimists and finds optimists:
1. Are more successful at school, work and athletics
2. Are healthier and live longer
3. End up more satisfied with their marriage
4. Are less likely to deal with depression and anxiety
Step 5: Teach Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a skill, not an inborn trait.
Thinking kids will just “naturally” come to understand their own emotions (let alone those of others) doesn’t set them up for success.
A simple first step here is to “Empathize, Label and Validate” when they’re struggling with anger or frustration.
Molly: “I am SO SO SO MAD AT YOU.”
Me: “You are mad at me, very mad at me. Tell me about that. Are you also feeling disappointed because I won’t let you have a playdate right now?”
Molly: “YES!! I want to have a playdate right NOW.”
Me: “You seem sad.” (Crawling into my lap, Molly whimpers a little and rests her head on my shoulder.
Step 6: Form Happiness Habits
We’re on step 6 and it might seem like this is already a lot to remember for you — let alone for a child. We can overcome that with good habits.
Thinking through these methods is taxing but acting habitually is easy, once habits have been established.
How do you help kids build lasting happiness habits? Carter explains a few powerful methods backed by research:
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Stimulus removal: Get distractions and temptations out of the way.
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Make It Public: Establish goals to increase social support — and social pressure.
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One Goal At A Time: Too many goals overwhelms willpower, especially for kids. Solidify one habit before adding another.
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Keep At It: Don’t expect perfection immediately. It takes time. There will be relapses. That’s normal. Keep reinforcing.
Step 7: Teach Self-Discipline
Self-discipline in kids is more predictive of future success than intelligence — or most anything else, for that matter.
Yes, it’s that famous marshmallow test all over again. Kids who better resisted temptation went on to much better lives years later and were happier.
What’s a good way to start teaching self-discipline? Help kids learn to distract themselves from temptation
Step 8: More Playtime
We read a lot about mindfulness and meditation these days — and both are quite powerful.
More playtime.
Playtime isn’t just goofing off. It’s essential to helping kids grow and learn.
Sometimes all science does is validate those things our grandparents knew all along. Yes, family dinner matters.
No strict instructions are necessary here: Budget more time for your kids to just get outside and simply play.
Step 9: Rig Their Environment For Happiness
We don’t like to admit it, but we’re all very much influenced by our environment – often more than we realize. Your efforts will be constrained by time and effort, while context affects us (and children) constantly.
What’s a simple way to better control a child’s surroundings and let your deliberate happiness efforts have maximum effect? Less TV.
…research demonstrates a strong link between happiness and not watching television. Sociologists show that happier people tend to watch considerably less television than unhappy people. We don’t know whether TV makes people unhappy, or if already unhappy people watch more TV. But we do know that there are a lot of activities that will help our kids develop into happy, well-adjusted individuals. If our kids are watching TV, they aren’t doing those things that could be making them happier in the long run.
Step 10: Eat Dinner Together
Sometimes all science does is validate those things our grandparents knew all along. Yes, family dinner matters.
Studies show that kids who eat dinner with their families on a regular basis are more emotionally stable and less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They got better grades. they have fewer depressive symptoms, particularly among adolescent girls. And they are less likely to become obese or have an eating disorder. Family dinners even trump reading to your kids in terms of preparing them for school. And these associations hold even after researchers control for family connectedness…
This simple tradition helps mold better kids and makes them happier too
Sum Up
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Get Happy Yourself
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Teach Them To Build Relationships
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Expect Effort, Not Perfection
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Teach Optimism
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Teach Emotional Intelligence
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Form Happiness Habits
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Teach Self-Discipline
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More Playtime
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Rig Their Environment For Happiness
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Eat Dinner Together
Playtime isn’t just goofing off. It’s essential to helping kids grow and learn.
The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
– Harold B. Lee
I hope this post helps your family be happier.
Time.com
Eric Barker, March 24, 2014