Positive thinking can unlock our true potential and build confidence. We want our children to be happy and confident and these are life skills which we need to help them learn. The stress in children’s lives may be different to an adults, however learning to identify and address any emotional stresses as soon as possible can help your children to avoid having negative or destructive thoughts such as doubt, fear, guilt, jealousy, frustration, shame, grief or sadness, these are sometimes known as toxic emotions which can cause a stress response in the body so shouldn’t be left to fester.
Managing schooldays, relationships with parents, siblings and friends; fears of homework, dentists and doctors etc. To manage, control and alleviate stress from our lives are all learned behaviours and by being a good role model we can teach our children the positive ways to deal with these. Providing constructive feedback and rewarding the milestones all help to instil positive parenting practices. Also don’t forget how important laughter is in life, it takes less energy to smile than to frown.
Gratitude can help us cope better with stress, improve health and increase positive feelings of hope, peace and gives us a happier life.
Keeping a gratitude journal can be a great wind-down activity before bedtime. Get your child to write down one thing each day they are most grateful for.
Help your children appreciate all that is good in their life by bringing to their conscious mind all that is good. Giving blessing for all that is received and showing appreciation are also great ways to make someone else feel good. Teaching children to say “thank you” will really help them appreciate everyone who contributes to their happiness. Get them to write a thank you note after they have received a gift or writing a thank you note to a teacher at the end of term.