Little things that keep them happy - help!

[writer234]

Hi,

I'm currently writing an essay that is comparing how children find happiness in the 'little things' versus how adults become stressed out by 'little things.'

So I have a question to the parents out there - what little things makes your little one happy? I'm looking for the things like getting extremely messy whilst doing finger painting, or anything that makes them beam.

I appreciate any help you can give. Also, if possible, could you say the age range of your children to go with what makes them happy?

Thanks for all your help!

cardboard boxes

DS is 4.

Puddles

Splashing water out of the bath. (DD is 11 now but used to like that when she was little).

Ds (3) - cardboard boxes, scribbling, banging pot lids together.

Dd(1) - walking around (novelty hasn't worn off yet), bouncing, chewing on a baby bottle, holding coins (and sneakily licking them).

However I have to say small children do stress, majorly, about little things. This week DS has had a screaming strop about: having to say please; having to say sorry; a broken breadstick; his sister touching a toy that he wasn't playing with; his dinner being hot.

DD melts down about 3 times an hour.

They find their lives fun but very stressful. I suppose the difference is they don't worry about things happening in the future or hold onto things that have happened in the past.

Walking along a wall
Puddles here too
Collecting pebbles/leaves/sand etc in a bucket
Looking at building sites/road works (whilst I moan about the traffic delays)
Um cake...but then that gets me excited too

Daughter is 2

Pens. Stickers. Hugs. Animals. Tv.

Pulling rubbish out of the bin - 13 months

Pulling cups of water/tea over

Bashing the tv

Grinding his teeth really loudly, he laughs - makes me cringe

Emptying laundry bin

Generally banging things really loudly

Eating bits of fluff/food off the floor

Dd (4 years) loves those plastic clip type things you get on bras in shops that hold the front and the back together while they're on the hanger....Bra shopping made easy if I can gather a few of those for her to play with!

Playing with paper and putting in his mouth
Playing with the labels/tag on toys instead of the actual toy

My children are 0-3
Hard plastic things
Teaspoons
Pine cones
Sticks shaped like guns
Stickers

Stepping on berries on the ground to squish them and crunchy leaves in the autumn. Stickers. Nursery rhymes. Picnics. Me reading books to her. Holding her umbrella in the rain to keep dry. DD is only just 3.

Oh, and hiding from me - preferably under the covers in our bed, but anywhere will do - and popping out to say 'Boo!'

Farting esp when he was newborn to a few weeks old.

Cracking eggs, running at the sofa, jumping on the sofa, jumping off the sofa, jumping on the bed.

Agree with other posters though my two year old has tantrums about the smallest things too - wrong spoon, losing his page in the colouring book, not flushing poo to pooland

Spaghetti hoops
Tumble biscuits (biscuits with smarties)
Baking
Seeing a digger, bus or train
Tickles
Hiding (in a two year old still very visible way )
Puddles
Swings and slides

My son is 4 and loves it when we each pull funny faces.

Ds is 15 months. Things that make him are:

• being allowed to walk outside without having to hold my hand
• seeing Grandma, Grandad, Uncles
• watching Thomas the tank
• going on the bus
• playing with the washing machine buttons
• banging stuff
• dancing
• bathtime especially splashing
• being tickled
• chocolate

But yes agree with others that they fly into a rage about the smallest of things eg:

• his favourite book not having more pages
• not being allowed to play with sockets
• not being allowed to chase after cars
• that his banana was finished

Ds is 4. He loves cardboard boxes, rubbers and spotting motorbikes on the syreet.

Dd is 14 mo, she loves patting the dog and walking.

DD is 12 mo. She giggles like crazy if I come after her with tickly fingers, especially accompanied by sound effects. She also finds it really funny when she makes kissing noises / fake coughs and I make them back. Actually, I can't keep a straight face with the kissing noises either!

Until a month or so ago, she absolutely loved it if you hid a doll or teddy (behind door, a piece of furniture or yourself ) saying 'where's teddy', then brought it out in different directions saying 'Here she is'. Repeat and repeat.. It was a sure winner every time. She's not so interested in it now, which I'm a bit sad about!

being hung upside down

Scissors and paper.
Cornflour mixed with water, they will spend ages with that.
Water and various poury things.

They are 4 and 2.

catching sight of a crane on the horizon (DS is 3)