All parents want their children to be healthy and happy. It can be scary to see a child showing signs of sadness or other problems. These tips will help improve your children’s wellbeing and happiness. It can be tricky to use all these tips at once, so think about focusing on two or three, then adding more in slowly.

1. Come up with a list of your child’s best qualities. Perhaps he or she is creative, kind, good in art or reading, etc. Then, tell your child one or two good things about them everyday, without making it obvious. Keep your list in mind, and sprinkle a compliment into a conversation with your child each day.
2. Ask your child if he or she would like to help you cook a meal, or bake cookies. This could help boost your child’s self esteem and make them feel important and a part of something.
3. Ask your child to do a puzzle or play a board game with you. It will get your children away from the electronics and is a great way for the two of you to spend quality time together.
4. Give your child praise for something he or she did a really good job at. You could even put up a “certificate of praise” on the refrigerator. You and your child could create the certificate together on the computer. Doing well in school is great, but it’s also very important to focus on other good qualities, like being nice to others and sharing. Social intelligence is just as important as excelling in academics.
5. Model happiness for your child to see. One way to do this would be to tell your child one thing you are looking forward to each day. Maybe you’re planning to take a walk during lunch, or begin a new book. Later in the day, tell your child one thing you enjoyed about your day. When your child sees you finding happiness and expressing interest and excitement in everyday life, they too will look forward to doing things that make them happy.
6. Have a nurturing relationship with your spouse/partner. Make time for date nights at least once every month. This will give you time away from your child to discuss “adult issues” that your child does not need to be apart of. It will keep your relationship healthy, and there’s nothing more important for your child’s well-being than to know that his or her parents are happy together.

Try doing these ideas for about three weeks, and see the positive impact on your child!