Page 16 - Forest HIll June 2025

Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut, co-founders of Small Bits of Happiness on the mission to help people of all ages, especially teens, find more happiness daily, build happy habits, and boost parent-child/teen connection.
CONTACT:
mercedes@smallbitsofhappiness.com
www.smallbitsofhappiness.com instagram : small.bits.of.happiness
you ever asked yourself ‘how can I connect with my child or teen?’ We are two teens, aged seventeen and fifteen. Below we are sharing activities that are certain to bring both enjoyment and connection for all ages, year-round.
Connecting with people in our lives is one the greatest (and simplest!) strategies to feeling happier, according to psychologist and professor Sonja Lyubomirsky. As two teens, we know that in our busy lives it can be challenging to find the time to spend together as a family. Even more so, it can be challenging to find ways to create connections and memories with your child.
Have
1. Catch Up Daily
2. Cook or Bake
Traditions are an important part of connecting with one another and to our past. Recall a traditional dish from your childhood or culture. Maybe it is a special dish passed down through generations, or a delicious pancake or cookie recipe. Find the joy in creating a tasty treat together with your child, and teach them this recipe! Then, enjoy the fruit of your labor (who doesn’t love good food?).
Find joy in sharing your cooking or baking with others. Perhaps pack up a small amount of your culinary delight, and go together to drop it off for your neighbors. Giving to others brings a small bit of happiness to the person who receives your delicious dish, as well as to you and your child. Seeing our own actions bringing
We all have busy lives and schedules. Parents have work, and children of all ages have school, activities, and chores. Find time to intentionally catch up on one another’s lives. Perhaps in the car, around the dinner table, or during a brisk walk. Talk about one of the following topics to connect with your child and learn more about each other.
- What are you looking forward to this week? - What brought you a small bit of happiness
today? - What are three things that you are
grateful for? - What is one funny moment that you
experienced recently? - What is a song that you’ve been loving lately?
Keep in mind, this is a two-way conversation. Just as you want to learn more about your child or teen, they want to learn more about you. Any question that you bring up with your child, be sure to answer as well! Create connection and memories by intentionally spending more time together, and sharing elements of your lives with one another.
happiness grants us a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction.