How Parents Can Teach Children to Have a Positive Outlook on Life

Every good parent wants their child to be healthy and happy, but some kids develop a negative attitude when they fail to appreciate all they have. Parents may not realize that they are contributing to their child's negative outlook on life by being negative themselves. Parents who are critical of their child or others are likely setting a bad example without realizing it.

Developing a Positive Outlook

While children are born with certain personality traits, they are highly influenced by their parents' behavior. Children who have negative parents or caregivers may learn to focus on the bad things in life and forget to appreciate the good. Many parents notice the negativity in their child but fail to recognize that they are also negative much of the time. Parents who realize they are contributing to the problem need to learn how to improve their attitude before they can teach their child how to have a positive outlook. It is not easy to turn negative thoughts into positive ones but it is possible, and with plenty of practice, it can become a natural way of life.

Learning To Appreciate the Small Things

A great way to begin thinking positively about life is to begin a gratitude journal. Families can do this activity together. Each day parents and children should write down a list of 10-20 things that they are grateful for experiencing. People can place absolutely anything on their gratitude list including pets that make them smile, pretty flowers, friends, activities, places they see, a funny TV show or tasty treat.

The idea of the gratitude journal is to train the brain to notice the good things in life rather than continually focusing on the bad. By learning how to appreciate life, a person begins to develop a positive attitude. Once a week parents can hold a family meeting where each member shares some of the items on their gratitude list. This will bring the whole family together and remind everyone to appreciate the small things.

Attitude Adjustment for Self-Centered Kids

When a child is so negative that they refuse to participate in family activities, they may need to have an attitude adjustment. Parents can teach a child to appreciate what they have by taking them to volunteer in a soup kitchen. Children who have a sense of entitlement may change their attitude when they realize that there are less fortunate people in the world.

When Negativity Is a Sign of a Deeper Issues

Some children become negative after they have a bad experience. They may feel depressed after losing a loved one or special pet. They me be miserable because their parents are going through a divorce or because they have moved to a new location where they must attend a different school and make new friends. Many kids become negative because they are bullied at school or online. They may be upset because they do not like their appearance or because they are having academic difficulties in school.

How Family Therapy Can Help 

It is essential for parents to find out if there is something bothering their child so they can work to improve the situation. If a child refuses to open up to a parent it is a good idea to find an understanding counselor that can encourage the child to share their feelings.  A counselor can help children who are depressed, angry or stressed. They can also help children with undiagnosed anxiety disorders or learning disabilities to get the help they need. Parents can find out about the benefits of family therapy sessions online at thefamilycompass.com - boarding school advice and counseling website.