The world has its share of difficulties and teaching children to find the silver lining – even amid some of the hardest things we face – is important. Not everyone is born with a spirit of optimism. Because of that, it is crucial to teach children to develop that skill. Doing so has a positive impact on mental and physical health, happiness, and success. Here are some tips on how to teach your children the art of optimism.
Teach balance.
Developing a balanced approach toward life’s various ups and downs is important. Failure is a part of learning, and it will happen throughout your child’s life. Helping your child learn how to balance success and failure in a balanced way will be a life skill that they will need. It helps them recognize that with perseverance, they can achieve success and that even when they don’t get what they envisioned or planned for, it’s not a reason to feel disheartened.
Be on the lookout for the “good”.
Pessimists tend to dwell on the negative things and with that, it can be tempting to feel like you want to curl up under a blanket and just sit by yourself with your feelings. However, teaching your kids to look on the bright side and be on the hunt for the “good” in each situation is key. To do this, practice finding good things when you’re out and about. For example, when you’re out, have them point out things that are beautiful, or bring them happiness. Maybe it’s a squirrel burying its food for the winter, it’s stopping to listen to chirping birds, or when you’re out at the grocery store, you could encourage your child to point out a person that has a nice smile or a fun outfit. Teaching your kids to share in everyday things that surround them can help them build optimism and help cultivate a happier mindset.
Help them develop a positive inner voice.
It’s no secret that we are hardest on ourselves most of the time. That’s why stopping negative self-talk and helping them think of themselves as strong, confident, and unique individuals is key. When those negative things pop into mind, encourage your children to change the channel on that and instead, ask them questions like:
- What’s one thing that you did well in that situation?
- What did you accomplish that was positive?
- What would your friend think if they heard you talking like this about yourself?
As parents and nannies, you have the big job of helping lay the groundwork for how your kids view the world and it can go either way: positive or negative. There will be plenty of things that are dark and sad in the world as they get older, and it’s okay to process the emotions that come with that. But, trying to find a bright spot in even the most challenging situations will help them come out the other side with happiness and a greater sense of resilience.