How to raise a successful, happy family – according to science.

The National Survey of Health & Development conducted a longitudinal study carried out on tens of thousands of people over 50 years. Their research reveals a profound truth… parenting matters.  How do you raise a successful, happy family? With good parenting skills.

But being a good parent is simpler than you think.  Basic but essential parenting can get lost in the craziness of modern life, but science shows that going back to the basics is actually the most effective way to raise a happy, successful family.

Here are 5 simple things you can do to raise a successful, happy family – backed by science.

When you listen to what children have to say, they get the message, “You matter to me. I care about you and what you’re doing. You are important to me.” Communication is an essential part of building relationships.  

When families regularly share meals together, everyone benefits. Making family dinner time a priority from an early age can make a world of difference in the health and wellbeing of a child. Regularly sharing meals together as a family promotes better mental and emotional health, better physical health, better developmental skills and enhanced brain development in children, better academic success,  better behavior, and better family relationships.

Helicopter parenting may appear to be “good” parenting as you attempt to guarantee the child’s safety and success, but science suggests that supportive parenting is a far more effective method to rearing children to achieve academic success, high levels of happiness, and high salaries. Supportive parenting includes high or average levels of independence, high levels of trust and high levels of interest shown in the child with large amounts of time spent together.

If we want children to grow up to be capable, independent, trustworthy adults, then we need to give our children love and respect, show confidence in our children’s capabilities, teach them that they have control over their lives and provide guidance and then give them the freedom to make their own decisions.