Maylin Griffiths, mom of two and Clinical Child Psychologist talks about gratitude and happiness. Holidays are the best time of the year to teach your children gratefulness.

Research shows that optimistic people live longer, are less depressed, experience less overall fatigue, and are even at decreased risk for cardiovascular disease. Knowing that, most parents would value learning the tools of positive parenting to raise an optimistic human. Dr. Maylin Griffiths, PhD, is the founder of Raising Character. The clinical child psychologist visited Good Morning Arizona with strategies for maintaining optimism through disappointing or challenging times. First, address the permanence of the situation, reminding kids this is a temporary setback, situation, or feeling. Next, remind them that others are experiencing similar feelings or hurt, and they aren’t alone in this experience. Finally, help them understand that what is bothering them doesn’t define them: a bad grade doesn’t make a bad kid, a failure or disappointment in one aspect of life doesn’t negate other successes or skills. Dr. Griffiths suggests parents help their kids reframe frustrating experiences with a simple question of “What is this trying to teach me?” For more on her strategies to raise children who become adults you can be proud of, visit: https://bit.ly/35FPwwM