4 tips for teaching your child the art of happiness

You probably know a few people who have a positive attitude and seem happy no matter what’s going on. However, life is full of challenges and it is impossible to be happy all the time! Even though how we feel often depends on our circumstances, there are practices we can do to grow our happiness.

Happiness has many benefits, including:

• Strengthening the immune system
• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving sleep
• Improving educational outcomes
• Increasing how long you live

Here are some ways you can practice happiness with your children:

1. Social support. One of the most important components of resilience (the ability to bounce back from tough situations) is social support. In other words, having a supportive group of friends and families can help us get through the hardest moments. Helping our kids create positive friend groups and strong family connections is a great way to help create happiness. Encourage them to find time in their daily life to reach out, spend time with, and share their thoughts and feelings with people in their life. Want to add extra credit? Doing something for the people in our lives also increases happiness and feelings of purpose!

2. Fun activities. Doing daily activities that we find fun and fulfilling can increase our happiness, even if we do them for just a few minutes a day. They also can help distract us from our thoughts when we are going through hard times. Encourage your child to find hobbies or activities that help them feel accomplished, joyful or relaxed. For example, creative activities such as arts and crafts, physical activities such as dancing or a sport, or relaxation exercises like mindfulness or yoga. Make them a part of your daily family schedule to help your child create a positive habit.

3. Healthy routines. Our mood depends a lot on our physical health. Create family routines that prioritize enough sleep, body movement and healthy foods when possible. Remember kids learn from watching us, so model these behaviors yourself and make all changes as a family.

4. Practice gratitude. Sometimes we spend a lot of our time thinking about the hard moments and stressors. We have to remember to also give ourselves time to think about the positive things in our lives. Being thankful for what you have at any given moment is an important element of happiness. Spend just a few minutes a day with your children sharing what each of you is grateful for.

Free download and family activity 

Get our free download, Gratitude Jar activity, as a way for you and your family to work on this important practice. Share what you’re grateful for on social media, using

#OnOurSleeves so we can see! It's also available to download in Spanish. 

If you’re looking for more ways to support others and discuss mental health, join the movement of On Our Sleeves. We believe that no family should struggle alone in their journey with mental health. Check out more resources and guides, here.  

Ways to get involved:

• Become an advocate

• Join our e-community

• Partner with us

• Donate to the cause

• Share your story