Assistant Principal's Report

Helping our Children Build Long Term Happiness

In recent weeks many of the conversations I have had with members of the community including parents and teachers has been centred around happiness. ‘We want our child to be happy’ seems like a statement I hear often. Although happiness can be influenced by events that happen around us which we have no control over, long term happiness for our children is one thing we can cultivate.

Once again I refer to Parenting Ideas website for guidance, this time around long term happiness. In the article ‘Helping kids build lasting happiness’ by Dr. Jodie Richardson. It states that we can teach happiness by implementing and teaching happiness habits and practices and it uses the acronym ‘FLOURISH’. This stands for:

- Flow

- Laughter and Play

- Optimism

- Unite for Family meals

- Relationships

- Intensive exercise

-Self Regulation 

- Helping Others

For this fortnight we will look at flow and laughter and play. 

Flow

As a teacher and a parent I have often experienced great joy in watching a child engrossed in individual play or when completing a task like constructing or drawing. They always seem to be completely immersed in the experience. According to Dr. Richardson this is known as being ‘in the zone’ and therefore achieving a sense of flow. It also states that in order for this to be experienced the child needs to have an appropriate level of skill to meet the challenge and when the balance is achieved the flow produces satisfaction and happiness. I often see this occur with my middle son Sebastian when he is repairing or fixing a bike in our garage, this is where he is most happy. This is something we can encourage as parents through initiating activities at home that we think might encourage the experience of flow.

Laughter and Play

We know as adults the wonderful feeling we get after a good laugh with friends or colleagues. This is the same for children and Dr. Richardson states that laughter can make children happier and helps them breathe more deeply, therefore calming their nervous system and reducing stress. Research has also shown that the frequency at which children laugh each day reduces as they get older and the same thing applies to play. We can help to change that by creating opportunities for both laughter and play simultaneously. Encouraging members of the family to play board games together is one great example. In the Welsh household we endeavour to have weekly or fortnightly games nights which often culminate in the children rolling on the ground in hysterics. 

These are just two suggestions to add to the parent tool box. In subsequent newsletter entries I will cover the remaining elements of the acronym FLOURISH.

Mr Welsh 

Assistant Principal Wellbeing