Optimist in Training

Do you want your child to always see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty? It may be as simple as looking inward.

Children learn by the examples their parents set, so nurturing a positive environment where children can grow and learn to deal with challenging situations can have a huge effect.

“It’s important that parents teach their children to solve problems on their own,” says Catherine Hutter, PhD, pediatric psychologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “This leads to a sense of accomplishment because children have been able to take control of a situation instead of feeling hopeless.”

Banishing Bad Attitudes
If your child is struggling with a situation or has a negative outlook:

Get to the heart of the matter. Talk to your child about issues he may be having in school or with friends. Try role playing a situation with him so your child can see how he can react to and deal with a problem in a positive light.

Reinforce support. Letting your daughter know you are always there for her can go a long way to helping develop a positive outlook.