Are you a glass half-full type of parent? Are you naturally optimistic? If your child has reached the age of reason, you might already be seeing your own influence in their approach to life, especially when it comes to life’s challenges! We all want our children to be happy and one of the best ways to stay happy and balanced in life is to be optimistic.

People who struggle to stay upbeat and hopeful often also struggle to stay happy. But are we born with these tendencies? Or are they learned?

How your language influences your child every day

Those little phrases or comments that you say daily might not seem remarkable at the time, but they can affect your child’s outlook on life. Think about the sort of words you might use in a negative situation:

• “Oh, I knew it would rain!”
• “That’s just like me…I forgot to lock the door!”
• “Let’s not bother, it won’t be much fun.”

Negative phrases like this litter the conversations of most people. The fact is though, that these phrases are learned. If you often catch yourself coming out with comments like this, it’s highly likely that you learned them from one or both of your parents.

Try to catch yourself before you say these things. Rather than comment in an exasperated way about the rain for example, you could say “Oh lovely, it’s raining, the flowers will like that.” Turn things around. Everything has a positive side to it; even the bad stuff! Your positive outlook on life will help influence your child.

Teaching your child to appreciate the small things

Make sure your kids enjoy simple pleasures. A walk in the rain can be delightful if it’s approached from an optimistic viewpoint. A simple activity such as a snack beside the fire can be a lovely event if you present it as such. Mundane things can be offered as a wonderful treat. Children latch on to this sort of attitude easily and that will help them to develop a positive and optimistic outlook early on.

Why does optimism matter?

In short, nobody likes a complaining person. People who habitually look on the dark side of things aren’t fun to be around. It’s that simple. The most attractive and popular people in the world are usually those with a good sense of optimism. People are naturally drawn to those who they feel will lift them up because of this ultimately, optimistic people are happier.

Start as you mean to go on

Begin each day with your child with a positive comment. Understandably that can be challenging when you’re tired or busy. But it’s important. Furthermore ensure that you offer your child the chance to participate in lots of different opportunities. For example classes, clubs, and local places of interest. Plus teach them to appreciate the beauty around them. As the Head Teacher of this private school in Surrey says, identifying and honing a child’s strengths helps build their natural abilities. A child who feels confident in what they’re capable of will always be optimistic.