A Bendigo psychologist wants to put more people in the driver’s seat in the search for happiness.
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Ivan Honey is an author and founder of the Get Happier Project, helping parents and children improve wellbeing.
The project’s latest resource is The Get Happier School and was developed during trials at a number of schools, including several based in bendigo.
The research is very clear on emotional intelligence. Children who are happier and more well-adjusted learn more effectively and perform better at their work.
- Ivan Honey, psychologist
The program would soon be fully rolled out at Moama Anglican Grammar as well as in a school district in the United States. Several schools in northern NSW were also interested, and Mr Honey was keen to hear from others.
The program saw students learn through journals, activities and games throughout years prep to grade five. In grade six they worked in groups on projects to make their schools a happier place.
“For example, in one school the children are creating these lovely kitchen gardens. At another school they are painting a huge sign of what they’ve learnt,” Mr Honey said.
Projects revolved around a key question: Is this behavior helping me feel happier or less happier?
“The research is very clear on emotional intelligence. Children who are happier and more well-adjusted learn more effectively and perform better at their work,” Mr Honey said.
The program had been developed at a time when schools and policy makers were increasingly focused on student wellbeing. Mr Honey said many believed wellbeing was now just as important as literacy and numeracy.
“In a sense, what is the point of children getting through school and even doing brilliantly if they’re still unhappy and don’t have the skills for getting happier?” he said.
Happiness was something parents wanted for their children too.
“Most parents I speak to want children to do well at school but they always come back to this main thing: they want them to be happy, well-adjusted human beings,” he said.
“We all desire to be happy. We know we can’t be happy all the time. But even when we’re miserable and we’ve learnt this stuff we have the skills for making ours a bit happier.
“It helps us feel a little more in control of our lives, not victims of circumstances, things and people.”
To learn more about The Get Happier Project visit www.gethappier.net