*Photos are taken from various Wonderful Years Kindergarten activities
Happiness is one of the most neglected family values in twenty-first-century America.
Parents' efforts at helping their children gain happiness are undermined by
the distorted messages; that happiness can be found in wealth, celebrity,
power, and physical attractiveness.
the distorted messages; that happiness can be found in wealth, celebrity,
power, and physical attractiveness.
By understanding how happiness develops, you can help your children
find true happiness. The real causes of happiness are all within your
children's control so they can actively do things that foster their own
happiness.
find true happiness. The real causes of happiness are all within your
children's control so they can actively do things that foster their own
happiness.
Self-esteem is a powerful contributor to happiness. Self-esteem enables
them to approach life with confidence. Self-esteem also offers children
a strong sense of competence. This faith in their abilities facilitates success,
which can cultivate happiness. It also reduces worry and anxiety, which
can cause unhappiness.
them to approach life with confidence. Self-esteem also offers children
a strong sense of competence. This faith in their abilities facilitates success,
which can cultivate happiness. It also reduces worry and anxiety, which
can cause unhappiness.
Positive Attitude
We've all seen children who just have a great attitude about things. They're
positive, optimistic, and hopeful. These children tend to be happy because
they see the "glass half-full," Children with positive attitudes are also more
likely to express gratitude.
positive, optimistic, and hopeful. These children tend to be happy because
they see the "glass half-full," Children with positive attitudes are also more
likely to express gratitude.
Passion
Passionate children are happy children because there is something in their lives
that they absolutely love to do. Children's passions engage, absorb, and thrill
them. For example, the reader who savors every word of the books she reads
or the cellist who listens to Yo Yo Ma for hours on end. Just being involved in any
way in the activities for which they have a passion makes them happy.
Balance
The unhappiest children I work with are those who lead unbalanced lives. Their
self-esteem is based largely on how they do in one particular activity. When
children have setbacks and failures in that particular activity, they will experience
boredom, disenchantment, and frustration. If the one activity is all that your
children have to feel good about themselves, you are at risk for unhappiness.
Balanced children derive happiness from many outlets, for example, sports,
involvement in spiritual or cultural activities, or reading. Children who have
balance in their lives will still have experiences where things don't go well, but,
because their self-esteem is not based solely on one activity and other parts
of their lives bring them happiness, they're still able to maintain their happiness.
Be a Human Being
Popular culture creates "human consumings" whose primary purpose in life is
to spend and acquire. Human consumings buy, buy, and buy in the mistaken
belief that it will bring them happiness.
Happy children are human beings, finding happiness in experiences, relationships,
and activities that offer meaning, satisfaction, and joy. The ability to just be grounds
happy children in who they are rather than what they own, and gives them control
over what brings them happiness.
Relationships
People who have strong relationships tend to be the happiest people.
The opportunity to give and receive love, friendship, and support from
family, friends, schoolmates, and others is essential to happiness.
Social relationships may also reduce stress, increase feelings of
security, and generate other positive emotions.
The opportunity to give and receive love, friendship, and support from
family, friends, schoolmates, and others is essential to happiness.
Social relationships may also reduce stress, increase feelings of
security, and generate other positive emotions.
Children who have good relationships have less of a need for attention,
stimulation, and acceptance. They're less vulnerable to appeals from
popular culture that may make them feel important or popular.
Giving to Others
Your children will ultimately find happiness by giving of themselves to
others. There is something profoundly nourishing about putting others' needs
ahead of our own and helping others find happiness. Giving to others somehow
touches us in a very deep way and provides a feeling of meaning, satisfaction,
and joy that can't be found elsewhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment