Nature and nurture are in a
never ending battle to claim the
disposition of our children. While
it’s true that the apple rarely
tumbles too far from the tree, it
is also true that there are a
multitude of things we as
parents can do to safeguard the
childhoods of our children, limit
their exposure to the more
damaging elements the world
will see fit to introduce in time,
and do our best to raise a
healthy and happy child.
We might not be able to help the
variety of our branches, but we
are the ones who control the
nutrients in their soil and the
sunlight in their sky.
In addition to the obvious things
such as making sure your child is
consuming the right nutrients,
staying hydrated, and getting the
quantity of sleep and exercise a
growing body needs, here are 7
secrets that can help you raise a
happy child.
1. Let your child know you are
excited to see them when they
enter the room. Let them see
the light dance inside your eyes
when their gaze drifts into yours.
Be mindful of their presence by
showing them your smile and
greeting them warmly. Say their
name out loud. Not only do
children love to hear the sound
of their name, they also long to
feel validation from their loved
ones. Think about it from an
adult perspective – wouldn’t you
love it if the face of the person
you loved most lit like a holiday
parade every time you entered
the room? Your child loves you
the most, imagine the returns
after a childhood filled with such
affection.
2. Teach your child it’s okay to
be bored . As parents, it’s often
our instinct to entertain our
children each and every waking
hour. When we don’t possess the
time or energy, it is all too easy to
allow the glowing blue babysitter
in the living room to do the
heavy lifting. But when we rely
on television, or any other form
of autopilot attention, we
succeed only in limiting our
child’s development. Children
have vivid imaginations that
flourish upon nurturing. But
without the opportunity to coax
their creativity, it will only
whither on the vine. Allow your
child idle minutes to develop
their creativity with hands-on
activities to stimulate their
thought. A few sheets of paper
and a box of crayons can keep a
well rounded child busy for far
longer than an episode of Dora.
3. Limit your child’s media.
Related, but not limited to
number two. Limiting your child’s
exposure to media isn’t only a
positive move for promoting
their creativity, it is an excellent
method to broaden their
attention span while grooming
their ability to stay calm. Your
child will have plenty of exposure
to more than you want soon
enough. During those precious
years when you are the designer
of their decisions, you must
make sure they are learning to
live a life independent from the
over-exposure that is often too
easy to rely on. Yes it is difficult,
but we owe it to the next
generation to search for the
right road rather than the easy
one.
4. Let your child know they are
more important than work by
giving them eye contact and
attention. Your child doesn’t just
need you around, they need you
present. Play with your child,
interact with them, find out what
is important to them by asking
questions and listening to their
answers. Your child deserves at
least a little bit of you each and
every day, at least a few minutes
where you are not considering
your email or allowing your
thoughts to wander over what’s
been left sitting on your desk.
Letting your child know they are
important is like giving them an
insulin shot of happy.
5. Let your child make a few of
the rules. You don’t have to
make them the boss to let them
feel empowered. Often, power
struggles with our children are
the direct result of them feeling a
loss of control. You can easily
curb these instances by allowing
your child to feel like they are
part of making up some of the
protocol. By at least appearing to
give your child some of the
control, you are helping them
understand household law inside
and out. This will lead directly to
a willingness to follow.
6. Teach your child – don’t
assume it’s all happening
outside the house. Home
schooling is every parent’s job.
Whether your child attends
public or private school, or
receives all their schooling at
home, it is essential to the
world’s best future that parents
are the ones to fill in the blanks.
There are plenty of skills not
taught in school that play a
massive role in determining who
your children will grow up to be.
Children are not raised in
tupperware, and when they
finally leave us to enter the world
far away from our watchful eyes,
they must have the sharpened
tools that will help them be the
best that they can be.
7. Model appropriate behavior.
In my opinion, this is the most
important item on the list.
Children do as they see, not as
they’re told. If you want your
child to be mindful of others, you
must be mindful of others
yourself. If you want your child to
by happy, you must smile
without hesitation. There is no
one more influential to your child
than you. At least for now.
Raising a happy child is hard
work, but it is something that
can and must be done. Once you
focus on the needs of your child
and ensure you are doing all you
can to meet them, your efforts
will be rewarded. You will have a
healthy and happy child,
fortunate to have been raised in
a family where childhood wasn’t
permitted to simply fade away.
www.zenhabits.net/7-secrets-to-raising-a-happy-child/