How to Cultivate a Child's Good Personality

Author: Yezi / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
1. How to Make Children Cheerful and Optimistic
Cheerful and optimistic people are very popular in the crowd, and their cheerful and optimistic personality also brings many benefits. Surveys show that cheerful and optimistic people are not only healthier (their cancer incidence is significantly lower than that of pessimistic and depressed individuals) but also have happier marriages and are more likely to succeed in their careers. Regarding the formation of a cheerful and optimistic personality, American child education experts have proposed the following reasonable suggestions:
(1) Do not be too strict with children in terms of "control" and allow them to have different choices at different ages. For example, a 2-year-old child can be allowed to choose what to have for lunch, a 3-year-old can choose what to wear when going out, a 4-year-old can choose where to play on holidays, a 5-year-old can choose what toys to buy, and a 6-year-old can choose what TV programs to watch. Only children who enjoy "democracy" from a young age will feel happy and independent.
(2) Encourage children to make more friends. Children who are not good at socializing are mostly depressed because they cannot enjoy the warmth of friendship and feel lonely and painful. Introverted and depressed children should make more friends with cheerful and optimistic peers.
(3) Teach children how to get along well with others. This way, children can accept people of all personalities, which helps cultivate a broad-minded and happy personality. Additionally, parents should get along well with others, be warm and sincere, and set a good example for their children.
(4) Life should not be excessively luxurious. Material wealth can make children greedy, and the pursuit of material possessions often leads to dissatisfaction. This is the real reason why greedy people are often not happy. In contrast, children who live ordinary lives are often very satisfied and happy as long as they can fulfill a small wish.
(5) Let children have a wide range of interests. Cheerful and optimistic children derive their happiness from various sources. If a child has only one hobby, it will be difficult for them to stay happy for long. For example, a child who only loves watching TV will be unhappy if there are no suitable TV programs to watch that night. A child who is a bookworm but also enjoys sports, raising small animals, or participating in theater will have a richer and more fulfilling life, and thus be happier.
(6) Guide children to overcome difficulties. Even naturally optimistic people cannot always smile in the face of adversity, but they can usually quickly bounce back from disappointment and leave temporary setbacks behind. Parents should pay attention to cultivating their children's ability to cope with difficulties and even adversity from a young age. If they cannot immediately overcome a problem, they can teach their children to learn patience and go with the flow, or to find other spiritual outlets, such as sports, games, or chatting.
(7) Having confidence is very important. A self-esteem-deficient child is usually introverted and pessimistic, which proves the close relationship between confidence and the formation of a happy personality. For a child who is limited in intelligence or ability and full of self-doubt, parents should carefully observe their words and deeds, give timely and appropriate praise and encouragement. Affirmation from parents and relatives can help children overcome self-doubt and build confidence.
P58-59