9 Ways to Raise an Optimist

9 Ways to Raise an Optimist

We live in a hectic, stressful, political world that makes it easy to be pessimistic and depressed. However, these attitudes aren’t helpful and can actually be harmful. All parents wants their children to be happy, healthy, and optimistic about their future, but sometimes they can lose sight of how to accomplish that state of mind. Kids who are often sullen and dejected can eventually end up depressed, so it’s important to do what you can as a parent to help prevent that from happening. Here are 10 ways to make sure you are raising an optimist and not a pessimist.

1. Affection – The first step is to show your children tons of affection. Knowing they are loved and cared for is a big part of helping kids deal with adversity. Failures in life are easier to take when children know they are loved unconditionally and without judgement.
2. Praise – Always praise your child’s accomplishments and be specific when you do. Give them feedback that links their achievements to what they did to accomplish it. An example would be to state how all the extra studying paid off with a good grade on a test.  That is better than simply saying, "Great job, keep up the good work."
3. Monitor – Pay attention to what your child is watching on television, the games they play, and the books they read. You should monitor their activities to make sure they’re not exposed to too many bad influences. Also, make sure they’re not attempting to accomplish too much, as taking on more than they can reasonably handle can set them up for failure.
4. Be an example – Children will often mirror their parent’s attitudes, so be a good example. Kids will only learn to be optimistic if you show them how. Parents who are continually complaining or are pessimistic will pass those traits on to their children.
5. Reinforcement – When your child expresses optimism, be sure to comment on their great attitude. This positive reinforcement will put the emphasis on the desired behavior instead of focusing on the negative.
6. Accentuate the positive – When something bad happens, always try to find the bright side. If bad weather cancels an event, find something fun to do instead. Accentuate the positive by commenting how you wouldn’t have had so much fun if the picnic wasn’t cancelled.  During the 9-11 terrorist attack, the positive people would say, "Look for the helpers" so the children would focus less on the evil in the attack.
7. Minimize failures – Losing a championship or failing a test may seem like the end of the world, but children don't see it that way. Parents can raise optimists if they are successful at minimizing failures or by putting them into perspective. Show your children that there is always something to be learned from failures. 
8. Promote success – Encourage kids with age-appropriate activities they are able to excel in to promote success. Having unrealistic expectations only sets children up for failure, so make sure they’re not trying to do too much, especially at your request.
9. Laugh – The best way to encourage an optimistic attitude is with lots of laughter. Teach children how to laugh at themselves and not take everything so seriously. Laughing is the best way to diffuse a troubling situation.

Life is full of challenges and failures, so an optimistic attitude will go a long way to help your children deal with problems as they grow up. As adults, having this optimism will be an important way for them to achieve success and bounce back from failures. A positive outlook will help them in personal relationships and they can lead happy lives with better mental and physical health.

Remember: Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.

Happy Parenting!

My TpT site is called All-American Teacher Tools for a reason!  I have introductory PowerPoints and a Student-Directed Learning project for EVERY state in the union plus DC.  Here is a link to Missouri, but you can search for your state, too!  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Missouri-History-PowerPoints-and-Project-Based-Learning-Packet-4841217

Surprise!

Surprise is a fun word.  It implies fun, fantasy, festivity, frivolity, and even maybe a bit of frolicking!  Bring the element of surprise into your classroom, your work environment, your students' homes, and even your own home with these easy suggestions:

• Establish a Surprise Friday with your students.  List the accomplishments they need to complete in order to enjoy the surprise.  The accomplishments might involve positive comments to other students, curriculum completion goals, or an average test grade (average all student grades to avoid singling out an unprepared student) of 80 or above.  Then figure out some surprises: Group game, music time, free play, bring in a guest speaker, plan a field trip together, group discussion on a fun topic, etc, etc, etc.
• Boost teacher morale by starting a simple Surprise Monday.  This might involve a raffle jar with a prize of a gift card to (shhh... it's a surprise - Starbucks), perhaps.  Put a sign-up sheet next to your first surprise explaining the system so other members of the faculty, administration, and support staff can bring in their own surprise that does or does not need to include a raffle jar.  
• Surprise parents with a Good Work card.  Make them up ahead of time with a fun border, space for a student's name and reason for the card, and your signature.  you might even send home a letter to the parents ahead of time letting them know that at some time during the school year, their child may receive a Good Work card and to be prepared with a small "surprise."  Keep track of who gets a Good Work card so everyone will get at least one of your surprise cards.  
• Plan for a monthly surprise activity at home.  Don't let your family members know what will happen - simply tell them all to be available at a certain time on a specific day.  What might you do?  Family game night with prizes (the prizes make the difference!), a short family outing to a destination everyone will enjoy, a treasure hunt on a nature walk (better than simply walking in the woods!), and a family movie night with popcorn and movie-style candy (well, maybe not candy, but that would be a surprise in some families!).

Remember, whatever you plan should be a surprise - known only to you until the event.  Hints are allowable, but don't make them too obvious.  I think you'll find that the element of surprise will appeal to everyone. Warn everyone that not all surprises will be outstanding but they will be surprises, nonetheless!

To find some activities that will surprise and amuse your students, go to my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Some of my resources are free like this one to show your students how to make a pop-up greeting card for a friend or family member: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Create-a-Pop-up-Rainbow-Card-for-Senior-Citizens-589990

Please post comments if you try this activity or have something to say about surprising those around you!

Helping Stressed Kids

I found a great website that offers a variety of resources for parents and teachers of stressed children: https://stressfreekids.com/

It's $5 Wednesday again!

More teaching aids under $5!