Help Your Kids to Be Happy, Healthy and Successful!
Every parent wants their children to grow up happy, healthy and successful. We all do our best to try and make this happen, but it can sometimes be difficult to know what to do for the best. Well, here are a few things that research has suggested could be helpful…
Put them in daycare
If you have a young child and you’re wondering whether it’s worth putting them into daycare, the answer is yes. There are numerous benefits to children who attend daycare, including an increased likelihood that they will graduate from college, so if you can do it, get them into an education setting early and they will reap the benefits while having a lot of fun.
Take good care of yourself
Research has shown that happy parents are far more likely to have happy children. Stress and unhappiness are like a cold – those around you can catch them, and children can be very badly affected by negative emotions in their parents. So, don’t feel guilty about booking a yoga class, visiting a spa or taking time out from the kids to read a good book or meditate because what’s good for you will be good for them too.
Get them working
Having your children do chores is a great way to instill a good work ethic in them from an early age. They’ll see the value of hard work and learn how to stand on their own two feet so that when the time comes to wave them off to college you won’t have to worry quite so much about how they’ll fair.
Teach Math and English Early
According to an extensive study by the author Thomas Curley, 63 percent of self-made millionaires had parents who made them read at least a couple of books every month. These books would span a wide range of genres from historical biography to classics and even fun books.
In terms of math, Greg Duncan from Northwestern University has been quoted as saying that children who master math early are far more likely to be academic high achievers than those who do not.
Praise Hard Work
If you want your kids to always do their best, it’s far better to praise them for their hard work and effort than it is for their innate ability. Why? Because most people believe that their ability is innate, and so they are less likely to work harder when they encounter something is difficult. If they have learned, however, that it is hard work and effort that is important, they are more likely to push themselves and continue to grow and attain at a higher level.
Build Strong Relationships
Strong, healthy relationships with family members, friends, and the wider community can help children to feel secure and supported, and when they feel good in this way, they are more likely to do well in school and less likely to develop mental health issues. So, spend lots of time together and show them just how loved they really are.
14 Comments
Kate Sarsfield
Well, I’ve no children so shouldn’t really comment, but as that’s never stopped me before, here’s my tuppence worth: having children can be the most wonderful thing, but it’s a partnership between the parents. If you choose to stay at home with them during the early years, that’s bloody hard work and should be recognised as such by the other partner. Never take your partner for granted. And if you’ve no option but to do it alone, you deserve a medal!
Diane K. Brimmer
I like the ideas that you have on here. I loved working in a daycare center. I could see the benefits of having your child in daycare. I loved the structure that they learned along with many other things. Kids who are in daycare are socially ready for school as well.
Connie Gruning
Diane, I think Kindergarten would have been easier for Alice had she not been with me for the first 6 years. She wouldn’t have been so shy. Daycare could have helped.
Diane K. Brimmer
Daycare is very beneficial for children. Although you can’t replace the time spent with grandparents. I am sure she learned so many things that she would not have learned in daycare. She has a love you both of you that can never be measured. She has gone on trips with you and the family. She has learned about nature, hiking, camping and many more things that you don’t learn in a classroom. I bet today she is not that same shy little girl that she used to be. God bless her little heart. You are an amazing woman Connie!
Shannon Holmes
These are all great tips. I like the one the most about the parents being happy.
Connie Gruning
Shannon, I have a sign that says “If Momma ainte happy; aint’e no one happy”
But, seriously I think that if the parents aren’t happy it has that trickle down effect to the kids.
Christina Gould
These are great tips. I especially like the one about strong relationships. Thanks for posting!
Dana Rodriguez
I never heard of daycare being that beneficial but it does make sense. I had chores at an early age.. some I didn’t like very much like ironing the whole family’s work clothing every Saturday. Always took me a couple of hours but I guess it was beneficial. However to this day I won’t iron a thing if I can help it. I hate it!
Connie Gruning
Dana, I’m not ironing. ANYTHING. ever. again.
Sonya Cocherell
I won’t iron either, EVER!
Connie Gruning
Sonya,have you ever used Wrinkle Release? I have one bottle in all bathrooms (BTW doesn’t work on skin….. just sayin’) one in the laundry room and that is the closest I will ever come to ironing again. LOL!!
Dana Rodriguez
That Downy Wrinkle Release is as close as I come to ironing too Connie . Miracle in a Bottle. With they had come out with that when I was a kid LOL
Tamra Phelps
It makes sense to me. I’d say getting them into a good daycare, with a leaning toward teaching them things rather than just ‘babysitting’ them, is a great idea.