We all want to be happy! And if you are a mom or dad, this is the one thing, the most important thing, that you want for your children. The good thing: Science proves that happy children have little to do with the things we like to convince ourselves to feel guilty about. Much more, there are completely different things that matter. This is how you raise happy children!
How To Raise Happy Children
Working Mothers
Yes, you are reading correctly! The New York Times cites a study by Harvard Business School that found that working mothers in particular benefit their daughters. The study examined 50,000 adults in 25 countries, the result: Daughters whose mothers worked have a higher education, are more likely to work in higher positions and earn a higher income. Men whose mother was employed proved to be more diligent in the household and were more involved in raising children.
Getting To Bed Early
Here it may be that the kids don’t have the same opinion as the research, but at least you now have a solid scientific argument for the next bed-going debate. Going to sleep early is good for physical, emotional, and mental development. A study shows that late bedtime is associated with difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. For example, toddlers who go to bed before 9 p.m. sleep an average of 78 minutes longer than children who go to bed later.
Singing Makes Happy Children
Even if you’re not the new Beyoncé, try singing more often. A study from the University of Montreal found that singing calms babies twice as long as speaking. Another study conducted by psychiatrists at Stanford University Medical School found that hearing their mother’s voice stimulates communication skills in children and promotes social communication skills. Mother’s voice also serves as an important emotional support for children. Children’s songs are therefore an essential preliminary stage for later educational success and emotional well-being. Some researchers even believe that audition can improve children’s math and science skills.
Be Happy Yourself!
It may sound selfish, but it is true. The key to raising a happy child is to be happy yourself. It is similar to the oxygen mask on an airplane: you first have to put on the oxygen mask before you can take care of your child. Extensive research has found a connection between overwhelmed mothers and negative behavior in their children. So parental depression appears to actually cause behavioral disorders in children. Children are extremely sensitive and notice when their parents are not doing well. So this is why it is important to teach your children positive thinking! Optimism is so closely related to happiness that it is practically impossible to separate the two. So through optimism, we can condition our brain to be happy. An important quality that we should pass on to our children for a happy life.