Raising Happy Kids

As parents, we want our children to experience a well-balanced development and most importantly, to be happy while doing so.

Here are some useful suggestions

Connections

Children need unconditional love from one or both parents and benefit when they have close ties to their extended family, feel part of their school, and help care for pets.

Play

Open-ended play, in which children can invent scenarios and solve problems by themselves, helps them discover their talents and use their own resources.

Practice

When kids find out what they're good at, they'll want to do it again and again.

Mastery

From practice comes mastery. When children achieve a skill -- whether it's learning to tie their shoes or play the piano -- they're further motivated to tackle new challenges.

Recognition

Approval from one's parents, teachers, and peers for a job well done connects children to the wider world. When kids think what they do affects others, they're more likely to exhibit moral behavior and, ultimately, to feel good about themselves.

credit: Unilever