Day of Joy: how families can encourage this emotion

The RAE defines joy as the “pleasant and lively feeling that usually manifests itself with external signs,” or the “words, gestures or actions with which joy or joy is expressed.” Joy is that luminous feeling of fullness, having a “happy heart” as the song says, that feeling of pleasure that raises our mood, makes us smile or gives us satisfaction.

Today, like every August 1, the World Day of Joy is celebrated, established in 2010 at the initiative of the Colombian Alfonso Becerra at a Cultural Management Congress held in Chile. The purpose of this date is none other than to reflect on the transformative power of joy and the importance of this feeling in daily life.

Children are very aware of joy in their daily lives : playing, exploring nature, running outdoors , seeing the sea , eating something delicious , being with their friends, celebrating their birthdays, going down the slide or spending time with their families. pets are some of the activities that fill them with a joy that is as genuine as it is contagious. It is important to respect that each person expresses joy in a different way, and to know that joy is a fleeting and subjective emotion that cannot last all the time.

As with adults, each child will feel joy for a different reason. Some will enjoy learning to cook with their grandmother or painting with watercolor: others will prefer to go out riding their bike or have fun with board games. There are many types of joy: calm, explosive, dreamy... What is known is that joy multiplies exponentially when it is shared, since like all feelings, it is contagious.

6 ways to spread and stimulate happiness to your children

• Laugh yourself : Studies like this link depression in fathers and mothers with behavioral problems and less effective parenting in children. Meanwhile, happy families are statistically more likely to have happy children. Since laughter is contagious - neuroscience believes that laughing activates mirror neurons - laugh too. This way you will all improve your mood.
• Teach them the value of gratitude : Showing gratitude for the good things you have is one of the most powerful tools there is to boost happiness. Children can also write in their journals about the things they are grateful for, learning to see the positive in their lives and cultivating optimism.
• Spend time in nature : Going out to the forest to look for mushrooms, identifying seashells, collecting flowers to dry, observing birds and differentiating their song or walking with your dog along the river are some of the activities that will bring joy. In fact, a study from the University of Washington indicates that contact with nature is associated with an increase in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life . in addition to reducing mental distress. Other research indicates that children who spend time in green spaces are less likely to suffer from mental health problems in adulthood.
• Cultivate empathy in them : To be happier they must be understanding, value the differences they have with others and know how to put themselves in other people's shoes. They must also have control over decision making, learn to work on problem solving, and master impulse control and emotional regulation.
• Learn something new every day: On many occasions, joy emanates from curiosity, a quality that is practically tireless in children . Flip through a book, watch a movie, rescue an old board game, go out to watch the sunset or look at the stars, put on a documentary, learn to skate, play a game of chess, start a new collection, interpret a map, doing an escape room or daring regional dance are just some ideas. Every day is an opportunity to learn and experience something new, something essential for them to develop fuller, more conscious and joyful lives.
• The value of sport : There are more and more scientific studies that affirm that happiness and psychological well-being are related to the practice of frequent physical activity . Doing sports for a while each day will help them sleep better, feel good, have a higher mood, reduce anxiety and experiment with their senses and bodily sensations. As for adults, there are studies - such as a recent one from Yale and Oxford - that emphasize that physical exercise can make you happier than money.

It is also important to teach your children that full-time happiness does not exist, it is a myth! and guide them to adequately tolerate frustration and accept all their emotions, from sadness to anger.

Building lasting and healthy relationships, expressing your emotions or performing small acts of kindness are other ideal pills to raise more cheerful and happy children.