On positive parenting – 5 tips to raise happy & successful children

On positive parenting – 5 tips to raise happy & successful children

via the Huffington Post by Dr. Vanita Braver

Without a doubt, parenting is simultaneously the most rewarding and difficult job we have as adults. As a child psychiatrist and mom, I am always asked if I find it easier to parent given my profession. I always respond by saying, "I was the perfect parent until I had children!"

I am also universally asked about how to raise "happy" children. I always pause before I attempt to answer this question. Happiness is fleeting and one of the best things we can do as parents is to allow our children to experience and cope with negative emotions such as sadness, anger, disappointment, and frustration. The real question, I believe, is how to raise successful children with a good sense of self -worth.

Here are my top five tips for raising a "happy" successful child!

1. Ensure that your child feels loved & valued. Give hugs generously. Be patient. Be attentive. Have a warm attitude. Appreciate the uniqueness of your child. Offer support and structure to provide security. A child that feels loved and valued is a child that feels understood, acknowledged, and respected. This creates a connected child who will be able to foster relationships with peers and the community. These relationships are the social connections that provide the foundation for a child's healthy emotional well-being.

2. Lead by example. Studies have shown that parents are the most significant influence on the emotional and moral development of their children, and our children listen and observe all that we do. We have all had the experience of having a private phone conversation, only to find our child repeat it verbatim, often at the most inopportune time. Be the best person you can be as a parent and model integrity. Show empathy and help your child label and validate their own emotions. Your child's capacity for empathy and his or her ability to effectively communicate feelings with others will be invaluable for future success…

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