How to Cheer up a Sad Child

While most parents want their children to be happy all the time, the reality is that all children occasionally get the blues. The reasons a child might feel sad can range from losing a big soccer game to experiencing the loss of a pet. Other children might come home from school sad because they didn't do well on a spelling test or because a friend wasn't so friendly that day. When your child is down in the dumps, you can raise her spirits with a bit of fun and creativity so she's back to her happy, smiling self in no time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Distract your child with something he enjoys. Perhaps you could go to the playground and push him on the swings or head to the library and read a few of his favorite stories. You might even find a book that deals specifically with what's making your child sad, such as feeling left out or experiencing the death of a pet.

    • 2

      Plan an activity that's sure to make your child giggle. Rent a funny movie to watch together or try to play her favorite board game wearing blindfolds. Often, a child can shake a sad mood by doing something that makes her laugh and have a good time.

    • 3

      Brainstorm solutions to your child's problem. Taking action is a powerful way to encourage your child to cheer up and see the positive. For example, if he is sad because he failed his spelling test, come up with strategies to help him study for the next one. If he got into a fight with his best friend, think of ways he can apologize and restore the friendship. Having a plan will help your child feel more control over the situation, which is likely to cheer him up.

    • 4

      Help your child make a list of all the reasons she's happy. Perhaps she could include her family members on the list or that she just received a much-wanted toy for her birthday. Eating her favorite meal for dinner or having a day off from school to look forward to might also make it on her happiness list. Remembering all the good parts of her life can go a long way toward cheering her up.

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