Secrets for Helping Your Children Grow Up Happy

Today we'll share with you some secrets to help your children to grow up happy and have emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and confidence.
Secrets for Helping Your Children Grow Up Happy

Last update: 18 May, 2023

Becoming parents is a surprise that completely changes anyone’s life, even more so when it’s the first child. Because, even though we try to give the best of ourselves, sometimes we make mistakes that end up affecting the security, self-esteem, and emotional intelligence of little ones. That’s why today, we want to share with you some secrets to help your children grow up happy.

All moms and dads want to use positive and respectful parenting with their children so that they cultivate values and lessons as the years go by. However, along the path of child development and learning, there will be stressful moments that will test the love and patience we should have with our children. This means that we must learn about emotional intelligence in order to give our kids the best possible example.

You might be interested in: 15 Habits that Make Children Happy

8 tips for your children to grow up happy

Being a mother or father is a profession in which you never stop learning. And the fact is that each stage of your children’s lives is marked by new behaviors and experiences that bring with them new lessons. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some basic premises that can guide parents to educate their children with respect.

These are some secrets for your children to grow up happy.

1. Cultivate happiness by example

As children stop being babies and begin to gain more knowledge of their environment, they begin to have the ability to recognize the moods of their parents. They may even feel affected by their emotional state.

A mother kissing her baby.
Always treat your baby with love and respect so that they never normalize violent attitudes from anyone.

For this reason, it’s vital that, if you want your children to grow up happy, you be an example of happiness for them and teach them to appreciate the small gifts of life. When both parents feel at ease and have a good attitude, their children will thank them for it.

2. Encourage emotional intelligence

Children aren’t born with an instruction manual under their arm that teaches them how to manage their feelings. And all the emotions that come into our lives do so to teach us something. For this reason, try to foster your children’s emotional intelligence through your daily example.

This way, they’ll know the best way to internalize complex emotions such as anger, sadness, and unhappiness, and they’ll also know how to embrace optimism and foster self-control. So, instead of losing patience in the face of a temper tantrum, it’s better to use dialogue as a tool to share life lessons.

3. Share quality time

Personal and work obligations can directly affect the relationship children have with their parents. Because, although it’s a reality that you need to work to pay the bills, children need their parents in person.

Also, don’t let the inevitable passing of time prevent you from creating beautiful memories of your children’s childhood. Because of the above, dedicate a couple of hours each day to quality time and let your children know how much you love them through your actions.

4. Praise their victories

Childhood and adolescence are full of goals and milestones that, depending on the results, can motivate your children to grow up happy. So, when your little one does something well and behaves appropriately, praise their victories with words of affirmation and acts of love.

A mother kissing her toddler boy's face.
Show your little ones with words and actions how proud you are of them. And always encourage them to do their best.

It’s been proven that rewards can boost self-esteem and help improve your relationship with your children. Even more so when they’re emotional rewards rather than material ones. These are characterized by appealing to feelings in order to express the pride we feel. Among them are affection, praise, and recreational activities.

5. Allow supervised play

Through play, children learn new social and psychomotor skills that help them explore the wide world and discover new lessons along the way. Unfortunately, many parents, for fear of hurting themselves, place limitations on their children that, in turn, affect their personalities.

Outdoor play is one of the best ways for your little ones to have the opportunity to promote their creativity. So, no matter how much work you have piled up, share quality time with your little ones and play with them.

6. Establish limits and rules at home

For children to grow up happy, it’s very important that they know how to differentiate between what’s right and what’s wrong. Therefore, try to establish limits and rules from childhood. Remember that the lack of emotional intelligence can cause these codes of coexistence not to be respected, so you must enforce the agreements with respect and discipline.

7. Be kind and express how much you love them

Moms and dads are the main examples for our children to follow, and it’s essential to treat our kids with kindness and affection so that they’re sure of the love we have for them. Some parents think that apologizing or being affectionate will make their children see them as weak.

Nothing could be further from the truth, as asking for forgiveness teaches little ones to recognize their mistakes. In addition, it shows them the love that gives them the security of living in a safe space surrounded by the affection of a united family that invites them to improve every day.

8. Love your child unconditionally

When we say things lightly, our children take our words to heart, and they may leave a serious mark on them. That’s why, rather than scolding them for their mistakes, it’s better to remember that our job is to love our children unconditionally. Giving them the assurance that, no matter what happens, they can always count on their parents’ support to rescue them.

Put these secrets into practice so that your children grow up happy

All mothers and fathers want their children to grow up happy, but to achieve that goal, it’s crucial that we provide them with an upbringing based on love and respect. So, use active listening whenever they have something to say to you and teach them by example to be good people and cultivate their emotional intelligence.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


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This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.