Five Effective Parenting Tips on How to Raise A Happy and Confident Child

More than raising successful children, the main parenting goal for most parents is to raise a mentally well and happy child. Sure, there are many proven ways, scientific ways even how to raise brilliant and successful children. But, do parents really talk about how to raise happy and confident children? 

Recent child development studies show that a child’s self-esteem actually grows when the parent (or both parents) pays attention to their kids growing up. Paying attention means that you are actively involved in your child’s life, not just checking on them once in a while. Children also need space for them to grow and explore. Every time you allow your child to try something new, do new activities, and learn new ideas, you give them the chance to grow their self-esteem and develop new skills. 

On the other hand, attaining happiness is more complex, because of the many external and internal factors that affect it. A combination of psychological, social, economic, physical, and organizational factors all affect a child’s level of happiness. The book Raising Happiness by Catherine Carter emphasizes the importance of raising happy children: “happy people are more successful than unhappy people at both work and love”. Moreover, the book also linked the child’s happiness to their chance of landing higher-paying jobs and earning higher salaries. Children who grow up happy are more likely to have a fulfilled marriage and a happy family life. 

Every parent wants their child to grow up happily. Here are five proven effective tips on how to raise happy and confident children: 

Let children socialise and build relationships 

Socialisation is such an important part of a child’s childhood. When children go out and socialise more, they become more aware of their own behaviour and they get to know more of their own character. Playtime is also enhanced when children interact with friends of their age. These interactions between the child, their friends, and their environment positively affect their happiness and builds their self-confidence. 

Teach optimism

Optimism is defined as the confidence that something good will happen. When the child is optimistic, they will always look at the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Optimistic people always choose to look at the brighter side of things rather than worry about things they have no control over. 

Establish a love for reading and storytelling 

A study by the National Literacy Trust on 49,047 school-aged students found that children who are the most engaged with reading and writing are much happier in their lives than children who are the least engaged. Moreover, the same study found that those children who are more engaged in literacy activities are more mentally well than those who are not. A report analysis from the University College-London shows the relationship between mental health and verbal scores. 

Storytelling is a confidence-builder, in fact, it is the seed of effective public speaking. One of the most effective ways to raise a happy and confident child is to encourage them to build a reading habit and to tell stories. Not all parents may find this easy. If you are struggling with a reluctant reader, there are books that you can explore such as a personalised book. Personalised books are scientifically proven to be more engaging to the child because of their personal relevance to them! 

Encourage more playtime 

Playtime allows your child to learn as they explore the world around them. In fact, playtime develops essential life skills through problem-solving and socialisation. “Play is the child’s work”, nurseries understand the importance of playtime that’s why it’s part of the daily classroom routine for small children. 

Develop two-way parent-and-child communication 

Contrary to what many parents believe, communicating with your child is not one-way. In fact, if you want to parent effectively, you must first acknowledge that you are a learner yourself. We, as parents, learn so much from an innocent child as much as they learn from us. Encourage your child to talk and express themselves, acknowledge emotions, and provide support only when necessary. Allow them to feel, move, and explore, this is where they will learn. More importantly, keep your communication, two-way; it is the foundation of a solid parent-and-child relationship. 

Factors that affect happiness vary from person to person, but the child is an exception. The child’s happiness is extremely reliant on external factors, and parents play a crucial role in ensuring the child grows happily. Follow these five practical parenting tips on raising happy and confident children and make the most of their childhood years!