In a world where many children are easily developing an entitled mindset, it has become extremely common to hear phrases like “what’s the point?” or “I’m so bad at this”. With children not understanding the importance of hard work and having a positive inner voice, they end up becoming pessimistic and seeing life negatively. As a parent, it has become more important than ever to ensure your child is optimistic and sees life as a huge opportunity to be anything that they want. A positive attitude can quite literally be the reason that one child succeeds in life and the other doesn’t. It’s really that simple. Keep reading for some advice from this senior school in Northwood on 5 ways to encourage your child to be more optimistic.
1. Negative phrases
As mentioned earlier, phrases such as ‘I’ll never be able to do this’ or ‘I always mess up’ need to be eradicated from your child’s vocabulary as these sentences have a bigger effect than perceived. A study called the self-fulfilling prophecy discusses how a person’s mindset and future expectations can easily be dictated and set in stone simply by the way they think and speak to themselves. Challenge these phrases and help your child see the bigger picture. You can respond by reminding them about a previous time that they thought they were incapable, but challenged themselves and overcame their issue with flying colours.
2. Meditation
It may seem silly to a child to meditate, however, meditating for just 5 minutes a day can help them feel more grounded and reduce stress levels. Sit together and complete breathing exercises. You can also include affirmations for your child to repeat to help them feel a sense of control over their life and give them the push they need.
3. Exercise
Pessimistic people usually hold a lot of pent-up anger and rage. Exercise is the healthiest way to let go of these negative feelings and reduce feelings of depression. The endorphins released can be life changing and help your child see life with a more levelled head.
4. Gratitude
This is an amazing exercise to practice to help your child dig through their day to find their pockets of peace. Those who are grateful are more energetic, less depressed and generally a lot more open minded.
5. Journalling
This is another activity that can be practiced daily to help your child become more optimistic. Help your child set a routine where they spend 5-10 minutes a day writing about how they felt in their day and what they encountered. They can even use this time to practice gratitude by writing down 3 things they are grateful for.
By putting weight on the positives that life has to offer, your child will begin to see and feel the importance of being an optimistic individual.
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