What Made You Happy As A Child?

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This post focuses on memorable events which occurred in our childhood.

It also reminds us of the importance of being involved in the lives of our children rather than just buying gifts or toys in order to make up for lost time. Our children really need all the love, care and discipline they can get from us.

In my experience, it’s not that easy raising children and my aim is to be the best dad(work in progress). I also acknowledge we have difficult schedules; but if all we can give is 30 minutes of our time each day(which is quite small), they need to have our full attention for that period.

The results of a survey published today show at least half a million children in the United Kingdom. are unhappy with their lives.

The key findings in the report include:

Choice and family have the biggest impact on children’s happiness.
It is not the structure, but the relationships within a family that children care about. Loving relationships between a child and their family are ten times more powerful than family structure in increasing well-being.
Stability is important. Children who experience a change in family members they are living with are twice as likely to experience low well-being. Almost a quarter (23%) of children who have moved home more than once over the past 12 months have low levels of well-being.
Low well-being increases dramatically with age – doubling from the age of 10 (7%) to the age of 15 (14%).
Children as young as eight are aware of the financial issues their families face. Children in families who have experienced a reduction in income are more likely to have low well-being.
Children who do not have clothes to ‘fit in’ with peers are more than three times as likely to be unhappy with their appearance. Around a third say they often worry about the way they look. Unhappiness with appearance increases with age and is greater among girls.
Children who had been bullied more than three times over the last three months were significantly more likely to experience low well-being (36%) than those that had never been bullied (6%).
Children like to be similar to their friends. Children who have a lot less, or even a lot more pocket money than their friends, have lower levels of well-being.

The report also gives 6 “key priorities” which are essential to a child’s happiness:

Providing the right conditions for children to learn and develop
Ensuring they have a positive view of themselves and a respect for their identity.
Enough of the items and experiences that matter to them.
Ensuring positive relationships with their family and friends.
Providing a safe and suitable home environment and local area.
Providing opportunities to take part in positive activates that help them to thrive.(Culled From The Good Childhood Report 2012)

It’s a sad report to read and my focus will be to draw attention to those fond memories we have of our childhood with a view to drawing us closer to our children in order to create that same or better experience.

My childhood wasn’t rosy and I dare say it was tough growing up. I can recall so many unhappy events but my parents were always there for me even when I misbehaved(laugh!)

This post reflects on the the events or things that brought joy to my heart as a child and I hope to take you down memory lane to relieve those precious moments.

In no particular order, they are as follows:

Watching wwf(wrestling) with my dad.
Pillow fights with friends in school.
Being a boy scout.
Taking part in school plays.
Talking to girls.(I almost turned it into a hobby laugh!!)
Watching my mum bake cakes.
Watching super ted, voltron, sesame street, animal quackers and the muppet show.
Drawing super heroes and making comic strips with my cousins.
Spending quality time with my sisters despite their constant nagging till date(laugh!!)
Having cousins, relatives sleep over.
Joining the choir
Playing basket ball.
Meatpies and sausage rolls
Going for birthday parties.
Going to the supermarkets with the whole family
Going to my grandmas house and getting apples off her tree.
School holidays because I could fly my kite.
Birthdays, Christmas, Easter because they were special occasions to drink a bottle of coke.(My mum and dad made us have fizzy drinks on special occasions only)
Being loved and cared for by my parents.
Having an ice cream from my dads bowl.
Going on trips with the whole family.
Getting my first police car with a siren.
Dinner time with the whole family.
Judo Classes.
Sadly.. wearing a bandage on my arm. I fractured it 6 times.
My dads approval and smile combined with mums hug.
Eating left overs from my eldest sisters plate.
Going to the park and throwing the frisbee.
Eating jollof rice and chicken.
Having a huge stock of provisions in boarding house.
Getting toys.
Growing my own back garden with my mum.
Helping a particular neighbour because we were always rewarded with sweets.
Playing the flute
Visiting days in boarding house.
Playing with the neighbours and we are still close friends even after 25 years.
Having a best friend.(Although we are not as close as before but I can always run to her/her family if the need arises)
Going to the pond with friends.
Wood work and Metal work with Mr. Carlos.

I can go on but I suspect it’s beginning to bore you.

Sigh! Those were the days. Fond memories!

Things have changed now with all the technology, video games, fear of the unknown….

The Challenge

Be inspired to create and maintain an atmosphere of love and care for your children to grow up in.