Bringing up happy kids

There are hundreds of methods, learning programs and whatnots which seem to guarantee satisfaction and happiness in a child - many of them seem to entail buying a set of books, CDs, a course of lessons and the like. The truth is, happy kids are those who live up to their potential and who feel secure in what they have (and this more than most times means loving parents and not every toy in the shop).
Here are some ways which you can use to boost confidence, encourage positivity and eventually create a well-rounded, well grounded, happy kid.
Teach self-confident
1. Let your child know that you love him for who he is, not what he does.
2. Praise your child lots, for efforts as well as for achievements. Describe what she's done well, however small, so she knows what to repeat.
3. "To be happy and self-confident, children need good self-esteem", (You can help your child develop her self-esteem in several ways. For example, let her know that everyone make mistakes, but that she has the power to put them right. Acknowledge and discuss her feeling about things, so she can think of ways of dealing with herself).
4. Making friends helps develop children's self-esteem too. find out about local playgroups where your child can learn to socialize with other children.
5. Teach your child how to do things by himself- like getting dressed and putting away his clothes. This brings about a sense of accomplishment.
6. Make them feel needed. Encourage participation in all aspects of home life. A kid may not be able to cook dinner alone, but can help peel potatoes or mix salad dressing.
7. Encourage your children to try new things and learn new skills. They will feel proud when they sense that you have confidence in their ability to meet new challenges.
8. Let your child make some simple choices for himself - for example, whether he wears the red or the blue trousers today.
9. Allow time to pretend play. While it is important kids know the difference between truth and fantasy, role playing is a very important tool in childhood as it helps them learn about the world around them and gives them time to think about how they will act in different situations.
Always make time to play
10. Never dismiss a child's need to play, even if the games seem silly to you. Even when you are busy in the kitchen, you can pre-freeze a few plastic animals in ice cube trays and let your kid play with the defrosting toys as you work at the sink.
11. Go for walks. And not in shopping complexes! Take a stroll around your neighborhood and let your child see new faces and make new friends.
12. Introduce animal friends. This does not mean buying pets. It can be a visit to a zoo, a petting farm or even a visit to a friend whom you know has a dog or cat which likes children.
13. Make, not buy toys. Although it is easier to buy stuff, it means more to kids when parents take time to make things like a play dough out of water and flour. Making things also helps kids to appreciate creativity.
14. Teach texture and shape. Call attention to things which feel strange, funny or nice. Open up the world to your child and don't be too quick to say something is dirty. Allow a child to experience what mud feels like and how a leaf can be furry on the other side. All this adds to his store of expression and can give him ways to describe how he feels.
15. Hosting a toys tea party is a fun way to help your child improve his table manners and learn what's expected of him when he goes out for a meal or at school dinner time.
Do things together
16. Reading together is an ideal way to bond. Choose stories both of you like and use different voices for different characters.
17. Forget the stress for packing up the family to go to the cinema. Buy a fun DVD and make an evening out of the screening by rearranging the furniture to look like the cinema. Serve popcorn and cinema snacks as well.
18. Make cookies together. Sugar cookies are easy to make and fun to eat. Kids will love cutting out shapes with different cookie cutter and decorating the shapes with edible candy.
19. Make family important by establishing close bonds between family members. Visit aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins often and regularly so kids can get to know each individual.
20. Eat meals together. If cooking dinner is going to be stressful, take away a meal. That way you have time to spend listening up your kids talking about the things he has found out.
21. Get active. Do things together which make exercise fun. Learn to ride bikes and go to the park. Volunteer to walk a friend's dog or go swimming in the sports center pool.
Be positive
22. Children need a regiment to feel safe so try to stick to the same times for doing things - especially bedtime and nap times. Don't use going to sleep as a punishment - make it a safe, snugly, loving experience.
23. Always keep your promise.
24. Take time to listen to your kid and talk to him every day.
25. Keep demonstrating love by being physically affectionate.
26. Focus on good behavior instead of bad. Try catching him doing something good instead of doing something bad.
27. Establish clear boundaries and learn when to say no. Be consistent about it!
28. Never make fun of your child. Teasing is fine, but never mock.
29. Never quarrel in front of a child. Research says children have cited quarreling parents as the thing they hate most.
30. Look for the fun in everything, the way children do. Allow them to take the lead sometimes and you may be surprised at how your world view can change!