Someone in life will tell you that you should look on the bright or funny side of things. This is probably some of the best advice you can get. It is impossible to know exactly what life will bring and what it will surprise you with. Most of us will face some real difficulties in life, and for some of us those difficulties will simply be too much for us. If we can look on the funny side of life these problems don’t seem so bad. They fade away and feel like memories or bad dreams. It is amazing what a little positive thinking can do for a person in a bad spot. Even if the worst of all possible nightmares were to become true, you would still be able to laugh at your situation. Given that this ability is so important to life, what can you do to help your children see the funny side of life? Should you force them to laugh when things go wrong? Certainly not. However, there are some methods you can employ to help them develop this very important ability.
First, you need to laugh in the face of adversity if you expect your children to do the same. A child only learns to do what their parents do. If you do not look at the funny side of life your children will not either. Overly serious parents tend to lead to overly serious children. When something goes wrong and you can think only of how horrible things are, your children will also think this way. Attitudes pass from generation to generation and are difficult to change. However, if you can laugh when things are tough your children will develop this reflex.
Second, try to help your children feel safe and secure. It will be hard for kids, especially the younger ones, to look on the bright side of things if they never feel secure. When things are chaotic for a child they will probably feel much worse anxiety than an adult. Reassure your children and make sure that they know that everything is okay in your family.
Third, help your children find good things to laugh at when they are down. It is difficult to look at the bright side of life if you don’t have some practice. If children know what to look for when things are down it will make it that much easier to find the funny side of life. A few concrete practices could help with this situation. For example, you could watch a favorite funny movie with your children when they are depressed or down. You can go out to dinner or invite their friends over. Anything that will help them to gain a fresh perspective is a good idea.
Finally, point out the good things in your childrens life. Point out why they are so lucky or fortunate. Things to mention might be their home, food, care, and so forth. Many kids just don’t know how lucky they are to have caring parents and food to eat. While this might seem preachy, when a child is reminded at the right moment it can help to open their eyes.
There are many different techniques you can use to help your children see the funny side of life. No single technique may be better than another. Be creative and find out what helps your children as the unique individuals they are. With some experimentation and with the application of some tried and true techniques, you will be able to help your kids laugh in the face of adversity.
