Choose Joy

Why do we choose joy? Why do we choose to do things that make us happy? Why do we choose to allow our children to spend all day, every day playing? Why do we allow them to have so much fun?

It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless
L. R. Knost

Some argue that the world is a tough place and that we should prepare young people for that by being tough with them now. These people fail to realise that disappointment and difficulties are a natural part of life. Our children come across tough situations regularly enough. Helping them through these moments is of more value to their understanding of how best to handle tough times than deliberately creating adverse situations.

There are other benefits for our children too, as if living a life they enjoy is not enough. They will discover their true passion(s) in life and feel confident about following their interests. Their intrinsic motivation will lead them down paths and routes of exploration that no curriculum could ever set out for them and it affords them the time to delve into things to the degree that suits them.

Their autonomy means that they are confident in their decisions but also that they know that they can always change their minds because they are not governed by outside authorities. They will know that the power to change a situation often lies with them and that there are always choices and that it’s okay to change things in their lives so that they are happy.

And they will have a childhood full of fantastic memories.

let’s raise children who won’t have to recover from their childhoods
Pam Leo

To top it all, our brains have this amazing capacity to turn our joyful moments into real learning. When information comes into the brain it is sent to the appropriate area. When we are stressed or afraid or upset the information is primarily sent to our lower brain which deals with survival mechanisms. This is where we respond with behaviours such as flight, fight, freeze and fawn. It prohibits and limits information being sent to our higher brain because it is concerned with our survival in the moment. Conversely, when we are safe and secure and happy, the messages we receive are predominantly sent to our higher brain where we make deep learning connections. Choosing to lead a joyful life literally enables us to learn better.

Confidently choose to do things that make your children smile.