I WANT MY CHILDREN TO BE HAPPY I

Who does not want happiness for their children and themselves? Humanity has always searched for different ways to achieve happiness, some look for wealth, some for peace, and so on… We chase after this so hard that we sometimes miss it all together.  

Advertisers promise happiness through their merchandise, others take the opposite route advocating the renunciation of material goods. Different religions also offer it to us. In short, there are so many varied and dissimilar proposals that they far exceed the space of this blog. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR CHILDREN 

Martin Seligman (2011) ignores philosophical complications and intends to work to increase wellbeing and happiness. He points out his disagreement with what psychology has been doing, which has been to address mainly to the pathological, dysfunctional and problematic side of it. 

His approach, called “Positive Psychology”, focuses on the analysis of six key virtues or strengths: 

1. Wisdom and knowledge, 
2. Love and humanity,
3. Courage
4. Justice
5. Temperance and spirituality
6. Transcendence

In relation to this, he points out: “I do not consider that we should dedicate too much effort to correct the weaknesses. I am inclined to think that success in life and deeper emotional satisfaction comes from the development and exercise of personal strengths and virtues” (p. 34). 

Regarding the happiness of our children, which is what we propose here, the cited author states that “educating our children is much more than preventing them from going the wrong way. It consists of recognizing and developing their strengths and virtues and helping them find the space in which they can fully express such positive traits…”

HOW TO INCREASE THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR CHILDREN

To increase the happiness of your children you should to do many of the things that we will advise in this blog. It is important that children are able to observe the relationship between their actions and consequences of those acts, and develop a sense of control over them. 

In addition, it is essential to praise their strengths, virtues and positive behaviors without setting limits. They must learn what is right and wrong. We also have to give a lot of affection and attention to all the siblings to avoid the emergence of rivalry between them; knowing how to handle the arrival of a new member. 

Likewise Seligman, always in the cited text, advises sleeping with the baby to generate a secure attachment. Also, as he grows older and you tuck him to bed, talk with him and go over the best times of his day, and wish him sweet dreams. 

In short, the happiness of your children is the result of a number of successes in their education, which include adequately facing difficult times, while rewarding interactions prevail. 

In my book WHAT DO I DO NOW? NO ONE TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A MOM!  You will find 27 common problems in children from birth to 12 years. In relation to this issue of the happiness of your children, you can review What should I do if all I want for my children is for them to be happy, Reinforcing behaviors and Inducing emotions.

You can also check in this Blog Discipline with love, To reinforce children and Is it better for my child to be competitive?; as well as visit Facebook Urquia Larralde (psykia), Instagram @psykia20 and Twitter @psykia20.

I appreciate any comments, questions, suggestions, or constructive criticism that you want to make through psykia20@gmail.com or by WhatsApp: +58 414 929 1676. They are welcome and I will gladly answer them.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE:

Seligman, Martin (2011): La auténtica felicidad, Zeta, Barcelona.