How to Raise a Happy Child

As you look around the park or the classroom, you'll notice than some children just seem happier than others. While debate rages about nurture versus nature, focus on the nurture part with these simple steps.

Instructions

1. Listen to your child. Make a habit of discussing their favorite part of the day, and, when they're older, anything that made them sad. Communication is vital to their self-esteem and to your healthy relationship, so build it from their babyhood and you'll enable your child to communicate with you.

2. Catch them in good behavior. Often parents fall into the habit of reprimanding their children, but saying nothing when things are done correctly. Reverse that by focusing on praising the positive behaviors they exhibit and mildly noting the behaviors that you'd prefer they drop. You'll see the positive behaviors bloom and your child's sense of self--and happiness--grow exponentially.

3. Let them sleep. American children, especially in affluent areas, are so busy that they often don't get the rest they need. A well-rested child is a happy child. Create a nighttime routine that is restful, calming and maintains your deep connection with your children.

4. Let them play. Not in an organized way, with a teacher in a structured class, but in your backyard, at the park or over at a friend's house. Creative, imaginative play is a method that a child uses to practice their new skills--they also use to work out things that are causing them anxiety and stress. Make sure there's plenty of room for play in your child's week so that they can use this tool to keep themselves happy.

5. Spend time with your kids. Grab a glove and a ball or read a book aloud. If your child is older, start a book club to begin a lifetime habit of sharing the joy of reading. Quality time has its advocates, but it's hard to argue with quantity--kids don't work on a schedule of opening up to parents and working through any issues, you need to be there consistently to help your kids and enable them to be happy.

6. Provide structure. Children are comforted by regular, reliable routines. Shifting sands make for anxious, unhappy children. While you don't want to be rigid, you should create routines that your children can rely on to enable them to focus on their developing understanding of the world and less on who's going where on what day or if they'll be picked up on time.

Tips & Warnings

• While children don't always get a vote on what the family is doing, they certainly have an opinion. Let your child talk to during disagreements.