We all want to be happy, right? Isn’t that the pursuit so many people aim toward?
As a parent, you not only want personal happiness, but you want your child to be happy as well. Some children seem to be born with a happy-gene (if there is one) while other children seem to struggle to smile. Whichever end of the spectrum your child is on, here are a few ways you can inspire joy:
- Laugh with Your Child Daily.
Silliness isn’t only for kids. Bringing laughter to your household can make you all a whole lot happier … and even healthier. In fact, laughter relieves stress by infusing the body with hormones that fight stress. So sit down with your kid and watch a silly T.V. show together. Or let your kid read you the comics and laugh at the punchlines together.
- Accept Your Child Completely.
We’re nearing that time of year that we grown-ups like to make all kinds of resolutions to improve ourselves: lose weight, reach goals, earn that degree. Reaching goals can be healthy, for adults and children alike. But ensure that your words and actions don’t make your child think his or her worth is based on accomplishments, looks, or other shallow judgments. Let your child know, as often as you possibly can, that you accept them as they are and that you love the way they are unique.
- Encourage Your Child in Self-Confidence.
We’ve all heard the phrase “Believe in yourself,” so much that it has become a bit of a cliché. Still, try to help your child develop a deep belief in his or her abilities to accomplish great things. This doesn’t mean that failure will not come into play. You should be realistic with your child as well as encouraging. If your child wants to be a baseball star, you can take him out to bat and pitch whenever you can, but you can also let him know Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times on his way to earning 714 home runs.
Bonita Jewel – Mommy, blogger, & dill team expert
