提升家庭幸福和健康指數的13條妙招

Tolstoy was right—happy families are all alike. At least they share certain basic characteristics. Here are a few of the foundations experts say are key to a loving, cheerful home:
托爾斯泰說得很對，“幸福的家庭彼此相似”，至少它們共有某些基本相似之處。專家說，營造歡樂祥和、愛意濃濃的家庭關鍵在於以下幾個基本點：
1. Create cuddle time. You can't overdose on hugs. It's important for families to spend time snuggling in bed together, reading, or talking or playing games. This kind of positive touch helps kids feel loved and secure, plus it’s fun for parents!
創造“相擁時刻”。擁抱不會過度，花時間跟家人們在牀上相互依偎，或讀書，或交談，或遊戲。積極樂觀的身體接觸會帶給孩子們一種關愛和安全感，父母也會感到樂在其中！

2. Sing together, stay together. The Von Trapp family had it right—singing together is a terrific way to bond as a family. Make up your own words to your favorite tunes; dance around the living room with your children; and use music to motivate room cleaning.
一起歌唱。馮·特拉普一家用唱歌的方式把每個成員都凝聚在了一起，效果很不錯。親自爲你喜愛的曲子填歌詞；跟孩子們在臥室裏翩翩起舞；還可以乘着跳動的音符開展一場室內衛生清掃活動。
3. Make room for fun. While it's good to encourage your children's schoolwork and extracurricular activities, too much emphasis on them can create tension and anxiety. Make time for activities that have no purpose other than to allow family members to enjoy spending time together. Play games, plot surprise parties, take long walks, explore a cave, plant a garden, or cook.
製造“快樂空間”。鼓勵孩子完成家庭作業、參加一些課外活動固然件好事，但過於強調這些事兒反而會招致緊張和焦慮感。抽時間開展一些目的性不強，而又能讓家庭成員共享受快樂時光的活動吧，比如玩遊戲，佈置驚喜派對，遠足旅行，探尋山洞，栽花種菜，再或烹飪美食。
4. Exercise together. Take a run or a bike ride to a local park with your child. At the park, you can take time to relax while your child plays in the sandbox or on the seesaw. This kind of outing allows parents to model healthy behavior, get exercise, and spend time with their kids.
一起鍛鍊。跟孩子一起跑步或騎車前往當地的公園，在那裏，孩子可以享受沙坑或蹺蹺板帶來的樂趣，而你也可以好好放鬆自己。這種集體外出的方式不僅使父母們可以塑造健康的行爲方式，強健體魄，還能與孩子們共度美好時光。

5. Create healthy habits. Junk food high in salt and sugar may taste appealing, but it will play havoc with your family's health and moods. Create healthy snacking habits by leaving out bowls of fruit, cut-up vegetables, nuts, or dried fruit.
培養健康的生活習慣。垃圾食品雖然美味，然而其中高鹽高糖成分將會損害家人的健康，影響心情。培養健康吃零食的習慣，遠離果盤、成品蔬菜，堅果和乾果吧（這句話不怎麼確定）。
6. Cook together. This is another way to get kids interested in healthy foods. While you're whipping up dinner with your children you are encouraging healthy eating habits as well as teaching cooking, measurement, teamwork, and improvisational skills. Also, kids who help makes meals are more likely to eat them.
一起做飯。這是激發孩子對健康食品興趣的另一種方式。在手忙腳亂跟孩子們一起準備晚餐的過程中，你不僅可以鼓勵他們養成健康的飲食習慣，還能教授他們烹飪、量度、團隊合作、即興發揮的技能。除此之外，有孩子們打下手的菜餚吸引力更大。
7. Reward good behavior. It's important to reinforce your child's good behavior. But there's no need to be extravagant. A visit to the zoo, a movie and popcorn, or a slightly later bedtime can be good motivators.
獎勵養成好習慣。強化孩子的養成良性習慣非常重要，但無需過度強調。答應孩子們遊覽動物園，看場電影吃個爆米花，或者特批他們晚睡會兒都是不錯的激勵方法。
8. Read and write together. Make time every day for reading. Read aloud to the kids, or have the whole family spend time with their own books, or listen to an audiobook. Cuddling up on the couch can make it even cozier. It’s also important for children to spend some time writing each day.
一起讀寫。每天要留出讀書的時間，或大聲念給孩子們聽，或全家人一起看各自喜愛的書，再或圍坐聆聽有聲讀物。沙發裏彼此依偎會使氣氛更加溫馨融洽，孩子們每天花時間練習寫作也非常重要。
9. Go one-on-one. Parents with more than one child should try to spend a little time interacting just with one child each day, even if it's just for ten minutes. That special time with a parent helps the child feel special and to bond with you.
交流一對一。養育多個孩子的家長每天儘量抽出少量時間，哪怕10分鐘，跟一個孩子做互動交流就可以。和父親（或母親）在一起的特殊時光會讓他感覺不一般，跟你親密無間。
10. Have routines. Kids thrive when they know what to expect. So bedtime routines that involve bath, stories, and songs before sleep can minimize nighttime misbehavior. A morning routine can also help you get out the door faster with little fuss.
具備常規事務。有期待，孩子們纔會茁壯成長。臨睡前的常規活動包括：洗澡、講故事、聽歌曲，這些都可以減少入孩子睡後不良習慣的形成。早晨的常規活動也可以幫你免去忙亂之憂快些出門。
11. Appreciate each other. Find little ways to show how much you value each other. One idea is to do a little happy dance every time a child returns from school or a parent from work.
珍惜彼此。找出一些能夠表達彼此珍惜的小方法。比如，待到孩子放學或一個家長下班後，跳一曲簡短、歡快的舞蹈。

12. Remember sorry isn't enough. When one of your children hurts the feelings of a sibling, it's not enough to apologize. That child must also find a way to help heal the hurt she has caused, by helping with a chore or sharing a toy.
記住抱歉是不夠的。當其中一個孩子傷了其他兄弟（或姐妹）的感情時，抱歉是不夠的。那個孩子必須找到一種方法用來彌補由她而起造成的傷害，比如，幫家裏做家務或者同他人分享玩具。
13. Prioritize your marriage The most important thing you can do for your child is to love your spouse and to demonstrate that love. This models a good relationship for your child and helps to keep your marriage intact.
婚姻第一。你能爲孩子做的最重要的事就是愛你的伴侶，跟他解釋什麼是愛。樹立起良好的家庭關係會影響你們的孩子，同時這也有助於保持你們婚姻的完整無缺。