Today, October 1, World Smile Day is celebrated, a date created with the aim of raising awareness about this simple and universal gesture that can bring so many benefits to oneself and to others.
The smile is the most powerful gesture of connection that exists, and we already know how important it is to connect every day with the people we love.
We tell you what are the great benefits that are hidden behind the smiles that we dedicate to our children every day.
Show presence, love and concern
With a few weeks of life, babies already begin to smile at their parents and those around them, provoking positive, affective and reciprocal reactions in them. The same thing happens in reverse: when we smile at our baby , it is very likely that he will respond to us in the same way.
For this reason, we should never lose this gesture of connection with our children, no matter how old they get. Nor should we allow the rush, worries and whirlwind of day to day to make us forget to smile, as this will not only affect our character, but also that of the people around us.
When we smile at our son while he talks to us or simply when we pass him in the hallway of our house, we are showing him “presence” . And I put it in quotes because it is not only about physical presence, but emotional.
And it is that giving us a simple smile looking into our eyes is a gesture of love so powerful and deep that it denotes much more than the simple physical accompaniment. It is one of the many ways of telling our child that we love him , that we think of him, that we are there for what he needs and that it makes us tremendously happy to be his parents.
Smiles become even more important when the child reaches adolescence, because in such a vulnerable and changing stage as that, it is more necessary than ever to show our children that we are by their side and they can trust us. Not surprisingly, numerous scientific studies have shown the relationship between the smile and aspects such as confidence , accessibility or credibility.
Makes the other feel good
When we smile we release endorphins , which are the hormones responsible for happiness and well-being. This makes our mood improve, we feel more relaxed and in a better mood.
Studies have also found evidence that smiling is contagious, so if we feel happy and smile at others, we will be causing a mirror effect in the other, making them feel good and improving their mood.
For this reason, on many occasions the smile and the sense of humor become our best weapon to resolve conflicts with our children in a positive way, as well as to communicate with our adolescents when we feel they are somewhat inaccessible.
We help create a calm environment in our home
Thus, if we smile, we will be creating a serene, relaxed and relaxed atmosphere in our home, in which our children will also be more inclined to smile .
And this also benefits them indirectly, since there are studies that affirm that when children smile or laugh they strengthen their immune system thanks to the release of endorphins. In addition, they become more cheerful and receptive when it comes to acquiring new knowledge or facing new experiences.
Smiling helps us relax
Smiling is also a good method to relax, as it not only triggers the release of endorphins -as we have seen before- but it also reduces blood pressure, helping to reduce levels of stress, pain and tension.
In addition, a recent study has shown that laughter before sleep acts as a natural sleeping pill, as it helps to release melatonin, which is the hormone responsible for inducing sleep.
Let’s smile more and let ourselves be carried away by humor as if we were children: both our children, as well as ourselves, will notice the surprising benefits.
Photos | iStock
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