How To Make Your Kid Happy

Being a Good Parent There are many ways to raise happy, well-adjusted kids, but science has a few tips for making sure that they turn out fine. From keeping it interesting to letting them leave the nest, then here are 10 research-based methods for great parenting.

Don't be duped by their height

No matter how tall they get or how grown-up they look, your kids remain just that... children. And parents of older kids especially need to remember this fact, based on Sara Johnson, an assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The developmental period known as adolescence lasts about 10 years -- from ages 11 to 19 -- and it's regarded as a critical time for brain development. So it's important to keep in mind that, even as kids grow into young adults, even they are still in a developmental phase that will affect the rest of their lifetime,

Slow down

The hectic schedule of maturity doesn't constantly vibe together with the relaxed pace of youth, according to Klein. Children proceed at a slower pace, and parents should attempt and match that rate, Klein said. By scheduling additional time for the small things, like a bedtime routine or a visit to the grocery store, parents could turn feverish chores into more meaningful time with their children, she said.

Tend to Your Mental Health

If you suspect you might be depressed, get help -- for your sake and your kid 's. Research suggests that gloomy moms struggle with parenting and also show muted answers to their infants ' cries in comparison with healthy moms. Depressed moms with adverse parenting styles can also contribute to their kids 's strain, according to 2011 research finding that kids raised with these moms are more easily stressed from the preschool years. The findings seem glum, but investigators say they're hopeful, since positive parenting can be educated even when mom or dad are battling their own mental health.

Let Go

When the children fly the nest, research suggests it's best to let them go. College freshmen with hovering, interfering helicopter parents are more likely to be anxious, self-conscious and less receptive to new adventures than their counterparts with much more relaxed mothers and dads. This doesn't mean that you need to kick your offspring to the curb at 18, but if you discover yourself calling your child's professors to argue about his mark, it may be time to measure.

Don't Aim For Perfection

No one 's ideal, so don't torture yourself with an impossibly large bar for parenting achievement. According to a study published in 2011 in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, new parents who think society expects perfection from them are more worried and less confident in their parenting abilities. And no wonder! Make an effort to dismiss the pressure, and you may find yourself a relaxed parent.