One of the most important tasks for every parent is to raise a child to be happy. But in recent years, and even decades, children grow less and less happy, become depressed, lose the meaning of life and do not know what they want.
What causes childhood depression
Opinions of experts differ on this matter. Some believe that gadgets – phones and computer games – are to blame. They take away a child’s time and the opportunity to communicate with peers. But the growth of disturbing statistics has been going on since the late ’90s, i.e. from a time before the Internet had such a place in our lives.
American psychologist Jean Marie Twenge, who studies the causes of generational differences as well as life goals and speed of development, believes that it is a matter of ever-increasing social pressure. The greatly increased number of divorces, as well as rapidly growing social inequality, has put tremendous negative pressure on the psyche of children. In addition, not only school demands have increased, but parents themselves load children with their own expectations and responsibility, which destroys the children’s psyche.
The role of play in raising children
For centuries, psychologists have been writing about the importance of play for child development. It is in the game that children learn to communicate, manage their emotions, make their choices, take the side of good or evil. In games, children make their own rules, learn to overcome problems and difficulties, to be independent and courageous.
Today, children have lost this opportunity because the ubiquitous babysitters and parents simply do not allow them to play by their own rules, constantly shaking them, interrupting play after the first tear and thus depriving them of independence. In schools and kindergartens, teachers and educators prefer to occupy their free time with additional cognitive activities instead of games. Thus, children lose the opportunity to nurture and develop positive qualities during play.
Like father, like son
If we want our children to grow up happy, we have to start with ourselves. Every child takes an example from his or her parents. As they say, the apple does not fall far from the tree…. What happens in the family, how the family lives – all this is reflected in the children.
Children are very sensitive to the emotions of their parents, especially their mother. Seniors must be prepared to be responsible for their children and for shaping a healthy and happy personality. The child must have the right to choose, and parents must be able to listen and hear their child.
When a child grows up in an atmosphere of goodwill and prosperity, surrounded by happy and accomplished people, he learns from them how to become just as happy and prosperous in the future.
What else is important for a child to grow up happy? There are several main categories.
- Freedom of development, i.e., the child’s ability to express his or her potential, abilities, and intellect,
- allow the child to make mistakes without criticizing him; after all, we know that mistakes are learned from them,
- try to understand the child. It means identifying his needs, taking them into account and reckoning with them. Set a personal example for him, and for this to be happy and fulfilled in life itself,
- to avoid situations of double standards. Norms and rules for the child should be the same as for all family members, regardless of roles and abilities.
To grow up happy, a child has to be sure that he is loved, no matter what he has done or said. His opinion is always important and interesting, he is accepted as he is and he respects and loves himself, he is full of optimism and positive energy.
Our children are our reflection in the mirror. So let us rejoice in every day, every moment of life, in the beauty of the world that surrounds us. If we treat our children properly, we will not only raise them to be harmonious people of an integral society, but we will also contribute to an integral world without suffering and violence.
