{"id":666991,"date":"2026-04-21T19:58:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/?p=666991"},"modified":"2026-04-30T18:17:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:17:31","slug":"raising-happy-children-in-challenging-times-practices-that-build-essential-skills-for-well-being","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mindful.org\/raising-happy-children-in-challenging-times-practices-that-build-essential-skills-for-well-being\/","title":"Raising Happy Children In Challenging Times: Practices that Build\u00a0 Essential Skills For Well-Being","content":{"rendered":"\n

Sometimes happiness might seem like a stretch\u2014for us and even for our children. The stresses of daily life, getting out the door in the morning, managing a household, coordinating schedules, as well as the bigger issues, including concern about the struggles in the world, can all take a toll on us as adults. Given the increasing issues with children\u2019s mental health, we know it\u2019s taking a toll on our children as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, amid difficulties, happiness is still attainable and essential to well-being and resilience. Research<\/a> on adult well-being shows that there are specific steps we can take to develop and nurture happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As James Baraz writes,<\/em> joy is \u201ca general feeling of aliveness and well-being that is characterized by meeting ups and downs in life with authenticity and perspective.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Based on our work with children, we know this is true for them, as well. It can be as simple as enjoying a hug, being mesmerized by a ladybug, or giggling at the shape of a cloud. These simple pleasures can be little moments of joy for our children and for us\u2014and they can be a part of raising happy children who are resilient, even in the middle of normal ups and downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Denying Difficulty, But Opening to Possibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we talk about raising happy children, we are not talking about “happiness” as the fleeting emotion that is a response to good or fun things. We are not suggesting pushing difficulties aside, but instead developing the capacity to hold them alongside our well-being. As James Baraz writes in Awakening Joy<\/a>,<\/em> joy is \u201ca general feeling of aliveness and well-being that is characterized by meeting ups and downs in life with authenticity and perspective.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We envision a happy child as one with a developing sense of ease with themselves, one who often sees and enjoys the good around them and within themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Happiness is not a destination or something to be achieved, but rather what Chang Meng Tan, author of Search Inside Yourself<\/em><\/a>, defines as \u201ca deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We envision a happy child as one with a developing sense of ease with themselves, one who often sees and enjoys the good around them and within themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> by the Center for Healthy Minds shows that well-being is a learnable skill. There are multiple evidence-based perspectives offering practical ideas for cultivating happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, The Resilience Project<\/a><\/em> by Hugh Van Cuylenburg focuses on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness to support resilience and happiness. The Action for Happiness Project<\/a> has a similar focus and lists mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness as core skills. In Hardwiring Happiness<\/a><\/em>, Rick Hanson adds to this list and stresses the importance of inclining the mind, or being on the lookout, for happiness and then taking it in.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raising Happy Children Starts by Building Well-Being Skills Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are three fun activities based on these frameworks to try with your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inclining The Mind And Taking It In Practice: Glimmer Wand<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Glimmers, coined by Deb Dana<\/a>, are little moments of peace, safety, and happiness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cut out, decorate, and glue a star on top of a popsicle or other stick. You can write \u201ccatching glimmers\u201d on the star. Share about glimmers and use the wand to \u201ccast a spell\u201d to notice and enjoy glimmers that day. You can also wave it overhead as people share their glimmers and how they make them feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brain has a negativity bias<\/a>. By pausing to seek out glimmers, we can train our brains to notice and savor delight more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude Practice: Gratitude Sandwich<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Children can draw and cut out pictures of five things or people they are grateful for as their sandwich fillings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n