If you have children, one of the main things you might be thinking about is how you can make them happy. It can be very difficult to know what the right things to do are. Every parent will have a different parenting style and opinion and it can often feel very overwhelming. This is normal for every parent to experience, and it will only get easier with time. You will find your rhythm. You will also learn more about your children, what they want and need, how they do things, and more. As long as you stay open to learning, listen to your children, and get curious about them, you will all grow together as a family. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips on how you can raise happy kids.
Give them their own safe space: It can be nice and helpful for children to have their own safe space to retreat to when they feel they need to. This might be a space they can use to get creative or have some downtime if they ever feel stressed or overwhelmed. It is important that children feel safe and have a place of their own to go to. You can let them decorate their own space, even if it is their bedroom with their decor, bedding, and colors. Encourage them to get creative and make it their own.
Create an open environment: You must be open with your children, as this will encourage openness and honesty from them too. Children are smart, and it has to be a two-way street. They model behavior, and will only open up if they feel seen and heard, and they can trust who they are opening up to. You can do this by not giving your children negative consequences or reactions when they come to you with things. Also remind them that it is okay to talk to you, and listen actively and with compassion.
Keep them connected with technology: Technology is a subject that is highly debated among parents. If you choose to let your children have technology, this can be a great way to boost their confidence and help them adapt to the world as it is. Many kids have technology and those without feel left out. It can be used for good, for example, educational games, school work, connecting with friends, and more. Just make sure you teach them online safety, download antivirus software, keep parental locks on them, and use the best VPN app to keep all your family members safe online. It can be helpful to set rules and boundaries around the use of technology so they can enjoy it, but also stay connected with the real world.
Encourage them to have fun: Kids need to be kids. They likely have a lot of pressure from school and peers. Make sure you encourage them to get out and have fun regularly. Find out what they enjoy doing, and even encourage them to try new things. You can even do them with your kids as a bonding experience. Just make sure they laugh regularly and do things they enjoy. Where possible, try to encourage these activities to be outside of the house and away from technology. Think of fun activities such as mountain biking, swimming, canoeing, skateboarding, or more. You may also consider how they can have fun while being creative, as this is a great way to support your children’s mental wellbeing.
Create a routine: Routines can seem a bit boring sometimes, especially to children. However, they are a great way to invoke a sense of safety and security in your children, as well as control over their environment. You may not realize all of this until a routine has been removed which is why not many people consider it as important as it is. A routine will also help with getting your children to bed, helping them sleep easier, wake up with less hassle, and get on about their day. You can create routines by setting bedtimes and wake-up times, and doing similar things before bed and in the mornings.
Do things together: Make sure you and your children do things together regularly. You don’t have to do everything together, and as they get older they are going to want to do less. This allows you to make the most of the time you have, but also helps build your relationship with each other. Secure parents can help your children with their health and well-being, their development, their future relationships, and more.
Parenting is hard. Follow these top tips to help you raise happy children!