5 Ways To Bring More Happiness Into Your Family Life

Almost everyone I know shares at least this one simple goal in life: to be happy. Parents also share this goal: to raise happy children. Money, material possessions and success in school can only give children so much happiness.

The great thing is, happiness has different meaning for everyone. There is no one right way to achieve happiness, but there certain things everyone can to do to become happier.

Game on

One of the best ways to be happy is through play. My daughter is always her happiest when she is playing, whether it’s with her dolls, outside riding her bike or playing board games. Making time to play with your kids will make the both of you happier. This could be a sport, reading for pleasure or even knitting. When you’re playing, nothing else in life matters.

See some world

New experiences make people happier. Treat your kids to new experiences, too. Teach them new skills, take them to new playgrounds, go experience different cultures, food, games, people. You don’t have to travel far. Chances are there are a ton of things to experience right in your own neighborhood and city.

Buddy up

Family and friends can provide great happiness, too. Having people in your life to share with, talk to, support one another, there’s no better feeling. Even introverts need to socialize now and then. That’s why it is so important to build good relationships with your children and to help them build strong relationships with other people.

Help other people

When we stop thinking about ourselves and take the time to help other people, we actually produce dopamine, a hormone believed to trigger happiness. Getting your children involved with volunteer work, committing small acts of kindness and just teaching them to be kind to others in general will help them feel happier in life. This can include anything from volunteering at a local charity, donating food to the food bank or even bringing in cupcakes for their classmates.

Being thankful

Gratitude can go a long way when it comes to happiness, too. Start teaching your children to appreciate what they have now so it becomes a lifelong habit. Learning gratitude takes practice but even just starting out small, like writing a gratitude list once a week, will bring more happiness into your life.