“The Happy List” To Teach Children To Value The Simple Things
Today, children are used to receiving many gifts that make them feel happy, but this happiness is very fleeting. Soon after receiving them, they already want other things and don’t like what they had. “The Happy List” is a method that helps children appreciate the simple things in life.
We agree that there are thousands of wonderful things around children that are not material and that can make them very happy, even if they are not considered by the children.
That’s why we, as parents, must teach them to value the little things that can make us very happy. How can we make our children value the simple things? Through the “happy list” technique.
What is “the happy list”?
Certainly, if we ask our child what makes him happy, his initial response will be a desire for something material. However, if we keep investigating and let him think more, he will find simple things in his daily life that also make him feel happy, from the beginning of the day until bedtime.
If we tell our child to make his “happy list,” it will be very gratifying to discover that there are many things around him that can make him immensely happy and that can be more fun. And why don’t parents make their own “happy list” too?
The good thing about this technique is that we can add things to our list as we remember it, and we can also dedicate one day a week to updating each other’s list and thus contribute to the happiness of the whole family.
How can we make the “happy list”?
Here is an example of what “the happy list” might look like, but you can adapt it by adding or removing things… Anyone can make the list according to their tastes and preferences.
First, it is necessary to ask the following questions: “What makes me happy?”. Or, in case we want our child to make his “happy list”: “What makes you happy?”
Out of home
- Go to the countryside and spend the day with the family.
- Enjoy the sunrise on the beach.
- Seeing rain fall on a rainy day.
- Play with my dog.
- Go to the park and play with my friends.
- Lie down in the field or on the beach and watch the stars, especially during the summer.
- Observe the funny shapes of some clouds.
- Walking barefoot on the beach sand.
- Hear and watch birds fly by.
At home
- Take a hot shower with my favorite bath toys.
- Embrace my stuffed animals.
- Enjoying the warmth of my bed while it’s cold outside.
- Enjoy water and electricity (many children do not have these amenities).
With the family
- Eating my favorite food, which my mother prepares so well.
- Listen to the stories told by my parents or grandparents.
- Make popcorn and enjoy a family movie.
- Play with mom and dad.
- Enjoy an afternoon of board games with the family.
Individual
- Assemble a puzzle.
- To dance.
- Draw and paint a design.
- Read one of my favorite stories.
- Make figures with modeling clay.
- Listen to my favorite songs.
- Organize my toys by colors or categories.
- Have an ice cream.
This list is endless and the activities above are just examples, as we can add things, exchange one for another, etc. Every day, we can discover new and simple things that make us feel good. So let’s all get started and make our “happy list”.
What are the benefits of the “happy list” technique?
- This technique helps not only children, but also youth and adults to begin to see and appreciate the things that bring joy, well-being, satisfaction, calm, or any other positive feeling that makes them feel good.
- It also helps children to get to know each other better, discovering their individual tastes and thus increasing their self-esteem and self-confidence.
- This strategy is also very useful when children are feeling sad, angry or frustrated. This list offers options to make them feel better at these times.
- Appreciating the simple things that do us good makes us more human. In this way, we will be teaching the little ones to be grateful, less materialistic, simpler, more generous, less selfish and more compassionate.
In short, now that you know how useful it is and all the benefits that the “happy list” has, it ‘s time to put it into practice and discover all the wonders that life can offer us without having to resort to things materials. So what are you waiting for to implement this strategy? It will bring great benefits to both children and parents.
