How to Teach Joy to Your Children

Parents face many challenges along the way. There are so many things to teach your children and values to instill. One of the best things parents can do for their child is to teach her to feel joy and appreciate the good in life. If this doesn't come naturally to you, don't worry. There are ways to make sure you can set your child on a happy path ̵1; and reap the benefits yourself, too.

  1. Point Out the Positive

    • To teach your child to focus on the joy in life, make sure you point out the positive as often as possible, suggests AhaParenting.com. This can be with big things, little things and everything in between. Show your child the beautiful flowers growing in your garden, an impressive sunset, or enjoy a perfect hot fudge sundae together. Tell her not to take things for granted, but to be present in every minute and to enjoy it.

    Be a Good Role Model

    • Your kids will pick up on the way you act even more than the things you say. If you are continually unhappy or complaining, they will think that's normal and eventually emulate it. So do your best to show happiness and joy yourself as much as possible. Looking on the bright side yourself will demonstrate that behavior. For example, if you don't like rainy days, instead of complaining bitterly about the rain, talk about how nice it is to have an excuse to stay inside and snuggle on the couch, watching movies. Notice and point out how soothing the sound of rain is.

    Help Them By Helping Others

    • Help kids find joy by having them help others. This is a good practice for all kids and serves the purpose of making them see how lucky they are to have the things they do. By helping other people or animals, they bring joy to their own lives as well as the lives of those they are helping. There are many types of volunteer opportunities, such as working in a soup kitchen, volunteering at a local animal shelter or participating in town cleanup days.

    Healthy Habits

    • Work on helping your child have a happy and healthy life by encouraging balance and good habits. Teach your child to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet heavy on fruits, veggies and whole grains. Encourage her to exercise and get fresh air. Introduce her to hobbies you enjoy, whether it's puzzles, board games or knitting. Work on teaching healthy ways to manage stress, such as simple yoga and deep-breathing exercises, or writing or drawing in a journal to express her feelings.

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