0
0
Over the years, I’ve been complimented a lot on how Bear is happy and well-adjusted. In fact, that’s probably one of the common things a lot of people say when they meet Bear. He’s very happy and it’s not contrived. He really likes being around people and seeing/experiencing new things, even if I sometimes have to convince him to do it.
I wish I could say I have a magic pill of doing so. It used to be I could take Bear to McDonald’s for a couple of hours and have him spend time playing games. Now that we’re still in a pandemic, it’s a bit tricky to do so (and plus we don’t eat McDonald’s anymore).
Some areas like Dave and Buster’s and even Chuck E. Cheese’s opened back up but we’re also a bit weary. While Maks and I are fully vaccinated (and I encourage you to do so if you haven’t already), we don’t know how well anyone else is. Being around all of that equipment in an indoor space is cause for disaster.
I began to look outside of the box. What can I do and where can I take my child that isn’t junk food but also will give him more enrichment? I can always take Bear to the mall but it’s still the same situation a la the aforementioned restaurants. How can I make a child happier without breaking my bank to do so?
So, I thought, here are my tips for raising a happy child. Now, I’m not an expert by any means, however, over the years, I have a good idea what it means to have a happy child. This list I’m about to present, however, doesn’t really mean buy them more toys or do weekly trips to Disneyland and the like.
It really just means spending time with your kid.
- Read to them. Kids loved being read to and you’ll be amazed at how many parents don’t read to their child. Bear has a plethora of books and he has favorites he loves to read. We try to read to Bear at least 20 minutes a day. Just some quiet time on the sofa or in bed and just read to him. In fact, children that are read to more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections to their loved ones, and gain a lifelong love of reading.
- Watch a movie with them. Over the past year, we spent a lot of time watching the James Bond movies and Bear has become a fan of them. This summer we spent a lot of time watching the Marvel movies and Bear is a huge fan of Captain America. Introducing your children to new experiences and things will only enrich their lives. And plus, when he sees a toy featuring a movie character, Bear will actually know what movie it’s from!
- Get invested in your children’s hobbies. Bear loves Roblox, Minecraft, and trains. Anything that involves those three things and Bear is all over it. While I’m still trying to understand Roblox and Minecraft, I have a pretty good understanding of trains now to the point where I’ll take Bear railfanning – watching trains – every week to encourage his hobbies. Not only will this create a deeper bond between you and your child, but you might end up finding something you love. Who knew how much I would love to find out about trains?
- Have playdates with others. This is important because childhood is a crucial time in a child’s life. It’s when they’ll develop playdates and friendships that might last forever. It’s important to the child’s mental, emotional, and physical health that he is constant contact with other children their age.
- Have playdates with you. I like to call these Mommy-Bear playdates. We go for ice cream, to the museum, or even do something completely extraordinary. It gives us some time to explore something new and also open up Bear’s mind a bit. We’ve gone to a farm to pick fresh vegetables from the ground, and even had a painting session at Color Me Mine.
- Let them have a little screen time. Yes, I wasn’t about to put it on this list but after thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. Having a little screen time (you can determine what a little means) does make for a happier child. For the sake of this article, I will refer to screen time as playing on an iPad, computer, or tablet. Bear doesn’t watch much TV, but he does love to stream on Netflix and Disney + when I let him. They get to problem solve or even self-entertain as you make dinner or do chores. In fact, according to experts, it’s about how the children use the screen time, and not necessarily how much they use it.
- Ask them about their day. What did they learn at school? What new thing did they learn? Who did they play with? Was anyone mean to them? Kids love to talk about themselves given the opportunity! Plus, you can learn more about your child’s progress in school.
- Put them in after-school activities. Bear is already enrolled in an after-school program, but before that, he used to take swimming lessons. Putting your child into an after-school program also helps with their social development and enrichment. Plus, it might give you a bit freer time to do things around the home.
- Meditate. Ever since Bear started meditating, he has slept better, dealt with his emotions in a much-more productive way, and is overall happier. Meditation isn’t just for adults! In fact, just recently, I recommended a highly-rated app just for kids!
- Have a dance party! Why not? Get up and move around. Even if you don’t dance, go for a walk around the neighborhood! Get active! Being outside will increase happiness and will make you feel good overall, so why not?
What are some ways you bring out the best in your child? Sound off in the comments!
