All parents have sky-high hopes for their children. We want them to be confident and satisfied. What can parents do to help their kids grow up to lead happy lives? Experts advise:

【小题1】. A study found that students whose parents paid attention to their abilities were far more likely to do well in school-and in life-than students whose parents didn’t show such support. So celebrate your kids’ achievements, no matter how small they are.

Praise their efforts. 【小题2】. Still, they are praised for trying their best. Ten-year-old April Cutler, for example, has had trouble with math since the second grade. “She usually gets C’s on her report card, but last year she was determined to get A’s and worked hard at it,” says her mom. “When the first grading period ended, April was disappointed when she got a B in math,” Lueille continues. “But my husband and I told her we were very proud that she’d improved. That inspired her to try even harder. 【小题3】.”

Let them make decisions and mistakes. 【小题4】. And allowing kids to make wrong decisions-so long as doing so won’t harm them-helps kids learn from their mistakes.

Encourage them to solve their own problems. As they grow, children need practice in communicating and standing up for themselves. One of the best places to learn these skills is at home. 【小题5】 the next time your child runs to tell you that her brother is blaming her.