Every parent wants to raise children who are happy and prosperous.
But there’s so much parenting advice out there.
Who should you listen to?
And which advice is reliable?
I read dozens of scientific articles and research journals to answer those questions.
1. Become a happier person yourself.
As explained in Raising Happiness, parents’ emotional problems are linked to their children’s emotional issues. Not only that, but unhappy people are also less effective parents.
2. Celebrate as a family as often as you can.
Happy families celebrate small and big things: the end of a busy week, a good grade, the first day of school, a job promotion, holidays, and festivals.
3. Prioritize your marriage over your children.
Family therapist David Code, author of To Raise Happy Kids, Put Your Marriage First, says: “Families centered on children create anxious, exhausted parents and demanding, entitled children. We parents today are too quick to sacrifice our lives and marriages for our kids.”
4. Give them your undivided attention when your children talk to you.
Communicating well with your children is vital if you want them to be happy and prosperous. One powerful way to do this is to give them your full attention whenever they speak to you.
5. Have regular meals together as a family.
As explained in The Secrets of Happy Families, children who have regular meals with their families become more successful in school and almost every area.
These children have larger vocabularies, greater self-confidence, and get better grades. They are also less likely to drink, smoke, do drugs, or develop psychological issues.
6. Teach your children to manage their emotions.
John Gottman’s research shows that children who can regulate their emotions focus better, which is essential for long-term success. These children even enjoy better physical health.
7. Teach your children to build meaningful relationships.
Jack Shonkoff and Deborah Phillips found that strong relationships are vital for children’s growth and psychological well-being.
Children who lack these relationships do worse in school, are more likely to get in trouble with the law, and are more likely to have psychiatric problems.