By Sandra Anderson RM., KT., LUT, Life & Soul Coach Intentions ~ Life and Soul Coach Integrative Energetic Healer Spiritual Guide, Speaker
Our happiness and well-being are learned. Raising happy kids is certainly not easy in this fast-paced, tech-filled world we now live in. Most parents or grandparents, when asked what they want for their children or grandchildren’s lives, respond “Happiness, abundance, etc.” We want this for our kids so they can have adulthoods of meaning, purpose, satisfaction and happiness.
It’s back to school time, and finding that right and perfect path is the challenge. The idea of happiness, how to get it or make it, has filled decades of studies and research. Tips are plentiful, just ask Google. Fortunately, there is a road map parents can use to guide children towards emotional well-being. From all the research, “the science of happiness” has identified several habits that help make happiness a likely outcome for kids and adults.
Create healthiness and happiness. “The way to do is to be.” Lao Tzu
1. Start the day on a high note. Gratitude feeds our soul, making us happier and healthier. Encourage everyone to share what they are grateful for, even the kid who is in the “crabby pants” stage. Challenge them to make it a game: after school, encourage them to create their own gratitude journal or wall with Post-it notes. Pick a place where you spend a lot of time like the kitchen to display them. The visual is a reminder that there are good things in life. Soon the gratitude attitude will grow.
2. “Screens are dessert.” To have healthy and happy kids, research has shown that excessive screen time leads to an unsettledness, poor brain focus, not being grounded in the now. Think of the connection of diet and health. Is it OK to feed children cookies, soda or ice cream all the time? Ahh…No! Let’s think about screen time as dessert. Inspire them to have a healthy balance of good food, reading, and exercise, especially outside in nature.
3. Practice kindness. Kindness is like a muscle—it needs play time. With kindness, our happiness and quality of social connections improves. Have your kids pick a family member or friend to bake cookies for. Kids (especially the younger ones) love to be kitchen staff and will return again and again, especially if they can be the quality control sampler.
4. Encourage creativity. Those who spend time creating tend to be happier and less stressed. Encourage them to create their own storybook of words and pictures. Try new ideas for dinner: Silly skits with a friend, video the family’s Happy Dance or song, and don’t forget building forts, in bad weather (dining room tables and couches can become a work of art).
5. Be curious. Find something new to learn. We’re happier when we are learning something new and learning to grow as people. As we learn more, we become more creative. Pick a county or favorite state to learn about and discuss. Have your kids plan a trip that includes topics of culture such as food, music or sports, and places to hike and explore.
6. Be patient, and be persistent with the practice. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s finding what makes you happy along the way. Now you can take these few tips and add your own to help create those happy and well kids and adults...get involved, have fun, enjoy the process.
Resources: Mike Ferry - happinessandinnovation.com. The Australian Parenting Website. https://raisingchildren.net.au/
LAO TZU, The Way of Life, Translated by Witter Bynner, Number 47.
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