Raising a Happy Child

Becoming a parent provided me with what I considered my happiest moment. I can vividly remember when I had my first glance at my first born child inside the nursery room over the glass window; I was instantly transcended into the highest level of joy I could never imagine. It’s truly magical and for a moment, I felt there was no other emotion inside of me but pure happiness. And then I felt love, lots of love, overflowing. You will be amazed by how much you can love someone you just met for the first time.

I believe most parents also experienced such enchanting feeling upon seeing their first born the very first time. It is a natural phenomenon probably driven by instinct and powered by complex human emotion.







Our fascination continues each passing day. We struggle to provide what we believe will give them joy………will give them happiness. It’s human nature. Or probably more aptly, parents nature.

Happiness seems everything we want to give to our children. Who doesn’t? It’s every parent’s goal……dream……aspiration. But then we have to ask, is our child really happy?

In an article in babycenter.com a child psychologist explains “Happiness isn't something you can give a child like a prettily wrapped present. In fact, trying to serve up happiness by showering children with toys — or even shielding them from emotional discomfort — can get in the way of their long-term happiness by denying them the chance to develop important inner tools …… and that the best predictors of happiness are internal, not external.”

But don’t worry; you don’t have to be an expert in child psychology to guide your child toward happiness. Just help him develop the inner strength and wisdom he needs in life. With patience and flexibility, you can lay the foundation for a lifetime of happiness. These simple guidelines provided by BabyCenter will help you.

Learn to read the signs: “Babies will become a master at showing you when something makes him content or upset. As you get to know your own child's temperament, you'll become better at learning the signs that something's not right in his world.”

Make room for fun: “Although a colorful crib mobile may bring a smile to your baby's face, what makes your baby happiest is much simpler: YOU. That's the first key to creating a happy child. Connect with your baby, play with her. If you're having fun with your baby, she's having fun. If you create a 'connected childhood,' that is by far the best step to guarantee your child will be happy."

Help them develop their talents: “Happy people are often those who have mastered a skill. When your baby figures out how to get the spoon into his mouth or takes those first shaky steps by himself, he learns from his mistakes, he learns persistence and discipline, and then he experiences the joy of succeeding due to his own efforts.”

Healthy bodies, happy children: “Lots of sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet are important to children’s well-being. Giving your baby plenty of space to release her energy, whether that means kicking her legs in the air, crawling toward a beloved ball, or going back and forth, will help put her in a good mood.”

Let them struggle with problems: “It's good to let babies cry a little as long as you're giving them lots of positive affection and attention. Children need to learn to tolerate some distress. Let them struggle, figure out things on their own, to allow them to learn how to cope. Allowing children a range of experiences, even the difficult or frustrating ones, helps build the reservoir of inner strength that leads to happiness.”

Allow them to be sad or mad: “Children need to know that it's okay to be unhappy sometimes — it's simply part of life. And if we try to squelch any unhappiness, we may be sending the message that it's wrong to feel sad. We need to let them experience their feelings, including sadness.”

Be a role model: “You can pass on your temperament to your children — not necessarily through your genes — but through your own behavior and childrearing style. Children pick up on their parents' moods. Even young babies imitate their parents' emotional style. In other words, when you smile, your baby smiles and his brain becomes "wired" for smiling.”

Teach them to do meaningful things: “As baby matures, she can be taught — with even the smallest day-to-day lessons. You can teach your child the satisfaction of give and take. If you give her a bite of banana, let her do the same by feeding you a piece. Show her how happy her gesture of generosity made you feel.”

Good luck to parenting. It’s everything. …..c”,)