When we see the glass as half full, rather than half empty, we are far better at dealing with adversity and moving forward in a positive manner, as opposed to dwelling on the past. As with most life lessons, the sooner you start, the better. With this in mind, you might be wondering how you can help your child approach life with an optimistic attitude. So, here are some tips from an independent school in the Southwest that you could try.
Pay Attention To Your Child’s Attitude
Consider your child’s approach to certain situations. For instance, if they get a bad grade at school, how do they react? Do they see it as representative of their entire life, or do they use it as an opportunity to learn and improve? If you notice that your child is quite pessimistic, you will be better able to help them change their viewpoint by challenging their cynicism.
As an example, if your child says things like “I don’t want to go to school today, everyone hates me” or “Why do bad things always happen to me?”, you should try and help them understand that setbacks are usually impersonal and temporary. Confront their negative self-talk and fight back against harsh statements. The idea is to help alter their thoughts to be more positive.
Encourage Ambition & Goals
By encouraging your child to set both short- and long-term goals, and helping them achieve these goals, you will help show them what they truly are capable of when they set their mind to something. As a result, they will become more confident, which in turn leads to optimism.
Your child will struggle to develop a “can-do”, enthusiastic attitude if they aren’t given opportunities to prove their worth. So, even if you give them some small, achievable tasks to complete around the house, like folding the laundry or walking the dog, they will gradually become more self-assured and independent, leading to increased positivity.
Encourage Independence
Similar to giving your child certain responsibilities and encouraging them to work towards goals, encouraging them to be more independent is another way to increase their self-esteem and therefore promote optimism. As a parent, it’s so easy for us to step in and help our children when we see them struggling with something, but this won’t help them learn what they are capable of.
So, next time your child is taking a little longer than you’d all like to tie their shoelaces or find the missing piece in a puzzle, don’t step in, and take over. Allow them to complete the task on their own so that next time, they will be more confident in their ability to successfully achieve what they need to achieve.
Be A Good Role Model
Your child will struggle to be optimistic if they are surrounded by doom and gloom all the time. With this in mind, try and avoid complaining in front of your child, and instead, model a positive, optimistic attitude.
Even if something is bothering you, try and spin it into a positive. For example, if you have a job interview coming up that you’re nervous about, say something like “I’m nervous for my interview but I’m sure it will go well as I have done a lot of preparation”. The way you approach certain challenges will help your child learn appropriate ways to behave.
Start a Positivity Journal
Journaling is great for children for many reasons. It helps them practise their writing skills and gives them a creative outlet where they can express themselves. A positivity journal is particularly beneficial because it will give your child an opportunity to think about all of the good in their lives.
Each night, ask them to write down things that made them smile that day, or things they are grateful for. The more your child focusses on the positives, the easier it will be for them to look to the future with optimism and excitement.
Promote Positive Problem Solving
When a problem arises, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. This is especially true for children who don’t have the skills to overcome challenges as easily as adults, who have years of experience and hindsight on their side.
So, try and help your child break down one big problem into smaller, more manageable chunks. Ask them what you think you should do to overcome the challenge, without getting frustrated or upset. Remind them that they will always have your support so that they don’t feel like they have to tackle things alone.
These tips should certainly get you on the right track to raising an optimistic child but remember that these things take time. You can’t expect your child to be 100% positive 100% of the time. Whenever you see them slipping back into a pessimistic mindset, help them find their way back to a more positive path.
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