How to raise a happy child?

Parents often approach me after public book readings and ask that very question.

My standard reply is ‘are you happy’?

I do not believe you can raise a happy child if you are not happy yourself.

Happiness is a habit - a routine behavior that is repeated subconsciously on a regular basis. It equates to the mental or emotional state of feeling pleasure, contentment, or intense joy. Happiness is when you are subjectively satisfied with what you have and who you are. When you smile a lot. When you feel safe and secure. When you feel accomplished and you understand what it means to live a human life well.

Once you can place a checkmark after all the above, you can raise a happy child.

The most important aspect of the relationship between you and her is love. Always aspire to be supportive instead of punitive. Never expect perfection, but praise and value the effort. Spend as much time with her as possible. Play together eat family meals together. Raise a child that can recognize her own emotional state and that of others.

How do you do that?

Read to her and when she is older, let her read to you and keep reading together - even when she is a teenager. Reading will help her to manage her own emotions, relieve stress, communicate effectively, and empathize with others. Reading will help her to overcome challenges and defuse conflict. As a self-aware person, she will be able to adjust emotions to adapt to a specific environment through self-regulation and self-discipline. She will be more aware of her social surroundings therefore possess better social skills.

Yes, these are the skills reading will teach her!

An emotionally intelligent child, that has acquired the aforementioned skills is predisposed for a happy life.

Please follow my hashtag #ReadToKids on social media.

Love, family traditions, praise, and interacting with your child are the memories that are essential to a child's developing brain and future happiness.