Optimism for kids1/5/2024 Parents are in a unique position, in that we can both train ourselves to become optimistic parents, as well as teach our children to think optimistically. The good news for everyone, though, is that optimism is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned. Optimism: Nature or Nurture?īut what if you and/or your children aren’t naturally optimistic and tend to see worst case scenarios everywhere? Researchers say that only 25% of us are natural-born optimists. In addition, optimists are better able to cope with stressful experiences, which is how most everyone would describe daily life these days. They also have richer and more rewarding relationships and careers. Overall, optimists live nine years longer than pessimists. Optimists, as compared to pessimists, are less likely to become ill. They are more likely to feel good about themselves, make friends, solve problems, take risks, and learn from their mistakes.įor adults, being optimistic not only makes life easier, it improves both one’s health and quality of life. No matter what their age, optimistic children do better in school. Hundreds of research studies have shown that optimism benefits both children and adults. It is the backbone of resilience, providing a lens of hope and positivity. Realistic optimism is about the ability to acknowledge problems and still maintain a positive outlook. It is not, however, a Pollyannaish belief that life is all rainbows, unicorns, and heart emojis. Optimism is the expectation that good things will happen-to you, to others, and in the world. Yet, I would propose that optimism is exactly what is needed both for you as a parent and for your child who is learning to cope with the world. It can pull at a parent’s heartstrings to hear their child lament “I can’t do it!” or “Nobody likes me.” Optimism may be the last thing that you are thinking about as you struggle to be a good parent and make life better for your family. Many parents find themselves without time to attend to loved ones, let alone themselves. Some children may be facing academic or behavior problems since being back in child care or school. Here’s Laura to share her wisdom on optimism with us!Īs we emerge from a pandemic, challenges abound. Practical and relatable examples we can use. What I love about Laura’s guest post today is not only that she breaks down exactly what optimism is (and isn’t!), but she gives us language to experiment with. (In other words, she’s an early education celebrity!) I got incredibly excited when I was introduced to Laura, as she co-created The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, which is the curriculum my daycare used when my kiddos were little. Colker, Ed.D, co-author of Making Lemonade: Teaching Young Children to Think Optimistically. Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to Laura J. And based on what our amazing guest is here to teach us today, optimism is indeed in the category of things we can re-wire. If you’ve been following along on the Mindful Return blog, you know I’m all for a good brain re-wiring. Is there any reason for optimism these days? Is optimism even something we can learn? And if it is indeed learnable, how can we teach it to our children?
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