Winmore

Favourite chocolate, a trip to the amusement park, unexpected holiday, superhero movie,
mother’s hug – there are innumerable things that make children happy. Yet, the state of being
happy is underlined by ceaseless excitement and undying curiosity. A positive mindset is
required to fight life’s battles and achieve fulfilment in the long run.
Sometimes parents are caught in the middle of what children want and what is best for them.
So here are some effective tips to raise happy kids that are backed by science:

1. Be happy yourself

We cannot make others happy if we ourselves aren’t. Find time in your busy schedule to
do things that you enjoy doing. Responsibilities should not come in the way of living to
the fullest. Like how laughter is contagious, happy parents are statistically proven to
make their children happy. Neuroscientists believe that another person laughing makes
the listener feel that they themselves are laughing.

2. Build relationships

Learning about relationships and maintaining them is important. Likewise, parents should
teach children to appreciate healthy relationships and value them. This helps in building
essential social skills and makes them happier in the long run. When there are people
around to rely on, it decreases the chances of anxiety and depression in children and
improves their self-confidence and self-esteem.

3. Expect effort, not perfection

Parents who overemphasize achievements and rewards tend to raise depressed and
anxious children. Their sense of under-achievement may motivate them to adopt
undesirable habits. On the other hand, when they are praised for the effort they put in,
they develop a growth-mindset which favours their intelligence and emotions. They are
more focused on achieving their goals without having the fear of failure.

4. Imbibe optimism

When you teach children to be optimistic, they will learn to look at the brighter side of
every situation. Optimism and happiness are directly proportional to each other. If
optimism is taught in early childhood, there are fewer chances of them having a hard time
during puberty. Optimistic children perform better in school and can turn any difficult
situation to their favour.

5. More playtime

Playtime is more than about goofing around. Mindfulness and meditation are equally
important for children as they are for adults. But it is difficult to get them to do it and therefore, indoor and outdoor games become more feasible. This is the time where they freely exchange ideas, negotiate, resolve conflicts and in a way, take care of themselves.
Physically active children become youthful and exuberant people.

An environment of happiness

We are all influenced by our environment more than we realize. When children see optimistic
and cheerful people around them, they will choose to be happy. Parents and teachers can play
a major role in creating positive environment that has scope for growth and development. At
Winmore Academy, one of the top CBSE schools in the country, we believe that a friendly
and pleasant environment is essential for the physical, intellectual, emotional and social
development of the children.
Happier the children, better the world.