Adam Ezekiel – Director of Students 7-12

7 ways to prepare your kids to lead happy, successful lives

This article is by WAYS Youth & Family, a community based, non-government organisation whose aim is to meaningfully assist young people and their families achieve a range of positive outcomes. It has 7 simple strategies to implement at home to foster wellbeing.

Create a happy and stress-free household

This is where a little self-love and mental care come into play. If you are showing that you are happy and that you can leave all the worries behind, then your child will do the same. Riding the waves of your teenagers moods, rather than reacting, can help to keep the home happy.

Create responsibilities

This teaches them about hard work and accomplishment. Children need to know that life isn’t handed to them on a silver platter or that the world doesn’t revolve around them.

Reading daily is important

Sometimes the simplest life skill is important for a happy and successful life, and that is where reading comes in. As children get older it might be more effective to discuss the news with them rather than read to/with them.

Set goals and expectations 

This teaches your child good habits for the future. When done correctly, it forces them out of their comfort zone and helps them grow more.

Praise them correctly 

When they earn a high score on a math test or win a soccer game, praise them for their hard work and effort instead of telling them they are smart or talented. Praising children for effort encourages a growth mindset.

Create family time 

Family time is not only about spending the time to create a positive relationship in your family, but it also is about encouraging social skills and learning habits. This can be more difficult if your teenager has turned their bedroom into their cave home. Having meals together, doing particular weekly activities together and other routines can ensure they come out of their rooms at least once a day!

Teach them to be all-around healthy 

Having the right amount of sleep, eating healthy, being active, limiting time on technology, being outdoors, socialising with friends, etc. Ensuring a healthy diet can become harder as young people have access to money and shops but insisting on healthy family meals is at last a reminder to your teenager. As a parent, you need to model these positive behaviours.