Most parents would agree that the well-being of their children is extremely important to us. One of the best ways to influence this is to teach them to be optimists. You might think that “teaching optimism” means putting on rose-colored glasses and stopping seeing reality as it is. However, this is not the case at all. Recent research shows that instilling a positive mindset in children protects them from depression and anxiety, and helps them achieve future success. However, a positive attitude in life is not an artificially happy smile while you are up to your neck in problems. It’s about working on your style of thinking and changing it to your advantage. Let’s take a look at some of the ways parents and teachers can help shape positive thinking in their children. Be an example of a positive thinker How do we react to stressful situations? What do we say out loud when something unpleasant happens: for example, a bill arrives for payment; we fall under someone’s hot hand; running into rudeness? It is important to learn to catch yourself on the negative thought “We never have enough money” and immediately replace it with “We have enough money to pay the bills.” Thus, by our own example, we show children how to respond to various unpleasant factors. “Best version of yourself” Discuss with your children what they would like to be/become. You can conduct this both in the format of an oral discussion, and fix it in writing (perhaps the second option is even more effective). Help your child understand and see the best version of themselves in different areas of life: at school, in training, at home, with friends, and so on. Sharing positive emotions In many schools there is a specially allotted time, the so-called “class hour”. During this session, it is recommended to discuss the joyful, educational moments that happened to the students on this or the previous day, as well as the strengths of their character that they showed. Through such discussions, we develop in children the habit of focusing on the positives in their lives and building on their strengths. Remember:
2022-11-11