HOW TO RAISE AN OPTIMISTIC CHILD | AD
It can be easy to focus on the negative things in life when we’re able to watch the news 24/7 and hear about everything that’s going on in the world through social media. It’s also hard to resist the urge to compare our lives to others’. However, encouraging your child to approach life and any challenges they face with positivity will boost their confidence and set them up well for overcoming obstacles and setbacks later on in life. Here’s some advice from a prep school in Hertfordshire on how you can raise an optimistic child.
Photo by Katrina Wright on Unsplash
Practice gratitude
Make gratitude a regular practice in your family so your child learns to reflect on the positive things in their life rather than dwelling on what they lack or on things that haven’t worked out. You could take it in turns to go round the family at meal times and all list three things you’re happy about that happened that day. Your child could also keep a gratitude journal and write in it before bedtime. Practices like these will get your child into the habit of noticing the positives rather than the negatives of any given situation.
Counteract fake news
Encourage your child to do their own research to fact-check news or things they see on social media or hear from their friends. It’s important for kids to realize that not everything they see or hear is factually true and that false information can spread rapidly. Prompt them to ask questions about things that seem dubious and take the time to fact-check. This will empower your child to discover the truth and form their own opinions rather than relying blindly on what other people say. This in turn will help them feel more optimistic about life.
Model positivity
It’s unlikely you’ll feel like being cheerful and optimistic all the time (we’re all human!), but it’s important for children to see their parents facing setbacks positively and having faith in themselves. Get your child involved in helping you identify the silver linings in difficult situations, so they learn that challenges and failures can be viewed as learning opportunities. Demonstrating positivity yourself will rub off on your child and encourage them to face life in the same way.
Adopting an optimistic attitude and developing positive habits will help your child push through any hard times they face and feel confident about overcoming obstacles or bouncing back from setbacks.
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