Dr. Paul Schwartz
The following is one of 14 variables that child development experts and happiness researchers believe attribute to raising not only a happy child but also continued happiness through adulthood.
Balance your child’s activities. Make the child a well-rounded individual with a diet of varied physical, social, intellectual, creative indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t, as the saying goes, have them “put all their eggs in one basket.” Having the way you evaluate yourself controlled by success or failure in one area is a very precarious way to live. Above all, always give children time for free play!
The ‘80s gave us the term “quality time.” It was a term coined by the “yuppies” as a means of rationalizing the small amount of “well spent” time with their children. Quality time is a good idea, but the more time you spend with your children, the happier they will be. You will also have fewer regrets about missed opportunities when your children become adults.
If this recommendation makes sense to you, it will become a practice. And, in any practice that we are committed to – no matter how many mistakes we make or how often we deviate from what we believe to be correct – we will keep trying until we get it right or at least until we improve.
The same concept pertains to parenting; parenting is very much a practice. I hope as you are enjoying these more relaxed days of summer, some of the ideas help bring more happiness into your family’s lives.
Paul Schwartz, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Education at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. He is available for group speaking engagements. He can be reached at editor@excitingread.com.
From HVParent.com: visit our blogs section titled "A 'well-rounded' child" for updates on creative activities our region provides.