Home - World Happiness Lessons

Happiness Lessons around the world

Pathways to the wellbeing of our children

What is it about?

Based on the results of positive psychology, Happiness Lessons complement the teaching of lexical knowledge with the teaching of well-being in nurseries and schools. Happiness Lessos support the well-being of children, teens and teachers in a strategic and scientific way, to strengthen the ability to be happy through the development of individual and social skills, to actively cope with stress, and to create a strength-focused institutional culture.

“The Happiness Lesson is an age-specific school programme that provides practical and theoretical knowledge based on personal experience to help individuals achieve total well-being.” (dr. prof. Attila Oláh, leader of Positive Psychology Research Centre at Eötvös Loránd University)

Who is it for?

For children ages 3 to 6

For nursery and preschoolers and their carers and teachers to plant a positive mindset from the beginning and learn positive communication.

For children ages 6 to 10

For elementary students and their teachers/parents to foster seeds of happiness, growth mindset, positivity and wellbeing.

For children ages 10 to 14

For secondary students and their teachers/parents to strengthen those happiness skills and to support flourishing.

For teens ages 14 to 20

For teenagers and their teachers/parents to support flourishing, focusing attention and coping with emotions.

For Special Needs

For students in Special Needs Education and their teachers/parents to explore their best potential and nurture positivity.

Our Results

1500+

institutions

More than 1500 institutions, schools and kindergartens are taking part in the Happiness Lesson Integrated Programmes.

150 000+

children

More than 150.000 children benefit from the Happiness Lessons via the Integrated Programmes.

7500+

teachers

7500+ teachers are working with us in Hungary and in other countries in Europe. They burst high community activity and enjoy our full support.

8

countries

The Programmes are running in 8 countries in Europe: Austria, Germany, Portugal, Serbia, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia.

The Positive Psychology Research Centre led by prof. dr. Attila Oláh at ELTE University assessed the impact of the Happiness Lesson Programme in 2016, and found it effective for building safer and more loving environments for kids to better engage in learning.

Our Impact

Presenting teacher's experiences of the Happiness Lesson Programme for preschool and school children

Hungarian Public Health Journal, 2022.

Summary: The development of Happiness Program for preschool and school age groups was started under the auspices of the Jobb Veled a Világ Foundation. In our study, we briefly present the theoretical background and methodology of this ......

MEASUREMENT OF HAPPINESS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SCHOOL

Hungarian Psychological Journal, 2019.

For adults, there are many questionnaires available to measure subjective well-being and mental health, but for children there is a shortage of such tests. Measuring subjective well-being in a school setting is also important, but no test is available in English for primary school age. ...

Happiness lessons
around the world

The Happiness Lesson Integrated Programmes are already running in 8 countries in Europe. You can also practice the Happiness Lessons. Contact us for more information!

For whom?

Professionals

Are your working with kids as a profession? Do you believe that wellbeing is as essential as other subjects? Are you looking for a methodology that supports self-esteem and resilience? Are you yourself ready for a positive change that comes with this Program?

Then the Happiness Lessons Program is for YOU!

Learn more

Parents

We all wish that our children become happy adults who have built resilience, wellbeing, strength and joy in their upbringing and are equipped with tools to face the challenges of life. Can these things be learnt and taught? We believe, we know, they can.

Are you interested, how?

Learn more

Happiness Lesson Integrated Programmes

Framework for teaching well-being

Our team

Bella Bagdi
founder

President and founder of The World is Better With You Foundation
Founder and co-author of the Happiness Lesson Programmes
Psychologist and Researcher
Mindfulness teacher (MBSR, MBCT)

Prof. Dr. Emőke Bagdy
scientific supervisor

Professor Emeritus
University lecturer at Károli Gáspár University, Budapest
Supervisor
Specialist clinical psychologist
European psychotherapist trainer
Co-author of the Happiness Lessons manuals

Prof. Attila Oláh
scientific advisor

Consulting scientific advisor of the Happiness Lessons Program
Leader of Positive Psychology Laboratory at Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest
University lecturer
Former President of the Hungarian Psychological Association

Zsofia Jozifek
international coordinator

Coordinator of the Happiness Lessons Program
Art therapist, Drama teacher
International project coordinator and expert
Trainer, facilitator, group leader

Happiness Lesson Basics

Practicing gratitude

List five things from today that you feel grateful for (people, places, events, meetings, special moments).

Optimism

What can you do to create a great tomorrow for yourself? Name three things.

Nurturing relationships

Send a note to someone special with a kind message.

Act of kindness

Who was the last person who did something good for you? Thank them. PLan to do something good, however small it is, for them.

Setting and achieving goals

What is your most important goal for you right now? What are the things you are already doing to achieve it? What more could you do? Who can help you with that?

Coping strategies

Which strategy are you already using when in stress: reading, exercise, nature, music, talking to a friend, writing, meditation?

Savoring life's joys

What little things make you happy? Small happy moments in your life? Today try to dwell in them for a bit longer than you usually do and take them in.

Practising forgiveness

Don’t hesitate to say sorry when you need to. And don’t hesitate to accept apologies.

Physical activity

Set up a 30 mins exercise challenge for yourself today. May it be running, walking or trekking - just go and do it. And try to really enjoy every minute of it, being grateful for the body you have!

Sustainable happiness

Which is your favourite happiness enhancing technique? Which one you haven’t tried? Give it a go today!

Character Strengths

Wisdom

Creativity - Curiosity - Judgement - Love of learning - Perspective

Courage

Bravery - Honesty - Perseverance - Zest

Humanity

Kindness - Love - Social Intelligence

Justice

Fairness - Leadership - Teamwork

Temperance

Forgiveness - Humility - Prudence - Self-Regulation

Transcendence

Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence - Gratitude - Hope - Humor - Spirituality

Self-confidence building activties

Developing a motivating vision

Draw a mountain and draw yourself at the beginning of the path! Also draw yourself at the top! Decorate your drawing wih your feelings!

Positive self-image

In pairs face each other and one of you do slow movements, which your partner follows and mirrors back to you! Give positive feedback about what you liked!

Healthy self-esteem

Draw a flower and write or simbolize your most important personality traits in the petals! Observe the balance of positive characteristics and to be developed areas and talk about 'healthy confidence'!

Fulfilling character strengths

Talk about character strenghts, and create superheroes who are master of one Character Strentgh! Draw them and organize a Heroe Party when you all dress up be your heroes!

Unconditional self-love

List 3 things why you are 'lovely! You can start the senctences with: Because I notice... Because every day I... Because sometimes I...

Self-compassion

Draw yourself in a difficult a moment pacticing compassion with your own self!

Growth Mindset

Try to create something that you have never done and find self-motivating sentences for yourself!

Positive relationships

Give positive feedback and positive affirmations to your friends adn observe the consequences!

Inspiring self-belief

Collect memories of success stories about things that you have never believed you could ever do!

Confidence for life

Create a rainbow about "self-confidence" and all you have learnt about its aspects! Put it up your bed/desk/mirror to help you remember that you are great!

Mindfulness for kids and teens

Relaxation techniques

Use your hands to create a butterfly by crossing your thumbs! Let your buttrfly fly to your chest and rest there. Let your butterfly move its wings. How does this feel?

Focus exercises

Make groups of different tasks: snap, drumbeat, clap. Create a rythm and keep repeating it!

Coping with difficulties

In a difficult moment sit down and massage gently your forehead, cheeks, and eyes for 60 seconds!

Meditation practices

Sit down with a partner relying at each others' backs and breath together for a couple of moments. Try to harmonize your breathing with your partner!

Self-reflection

Creat your image-diary of feelings that you use to feel and your language does not have a word for!

Reviews

"During the Happiness Lessons children get a chance to practice paying attention, understanding, expressing and discussing their feelings, they experience the effects of the different happiness enhancing techniques, so it would be desirable to introduce the Program as early as possible, in kindergarten age, because the sooner they encounter these things, the sooner they can apply them in their own life. These experiences will have a great impact on their future and these children will more likely become happy adults."

"The theoretical background of the manuals is professionally put together, it contains colorful and varied activities, very entertaining for the kids, who get the chance to work individually or in teams, using their creative powers to accomplish the tasks and challenges."

"In our school we have Happiness Lessons in every class - it creates a wonderful, cohesive and community. It would be great if parents could continue this work with the children at home. As a result of the Program, the family atmosphere and the experience of togetherness would improve, they would be able to learn new ways of problem solving, conflict management, and family dynamics, just as we have experienced in our school."

"Dear Happiness Lessons Team! Thank you so much for the Online Activity Bank you provided during the coronavirus and online learning period. This Bank is a true treasure box! Thank you so much for your support and help in these difficult and challenging times - this is such a big thing in this world!"

"This program is a revolutionary new initiative in terms of both its content and platform. Whoever goes through it becomes a completely different person compared to when they started."

"According to the measurements designed to assess the impact of the happiness lessons, the exercises performed at the happiness lessons strengthen self-confidence, endurance, increase the ability to concentrate, develop divergent thinking and creativity. Within the framework of development programs, happiness lessons should be made part of both public education and adult education."

"Through the happiness lessons, our children's mental health is refined, their sensitivity and empathy towards their peers is greatly enhanced, and their relationships are shaped by emotional understanding."

"The numerous feedbacks from parents has also confirmed the usefulness of the happiness lessons: they say that children enjoy doing the homework they are given and regularly talk about what happened in the lesson. Many of them are also happy to say that their teenagers really like going to our school because they feel comfortable and that they have a supportive environment in which they can spend their everydays."

"I've been a regular participant of the Happiness Lessons for almost four years now, and for me, this class has always been a way to relax and get away from the daily routine. As a Happy School Ambassador, my main goal is to ensure that as many students as possible experience this informal conversation and are able to build trusting relationships with their classmates. If everyone attended Happiness Lessons, communication would be easier!"

"What I love about the happiness lesson is that I can learn so much about love. I love that we all open up to each other, everything is much easier after that, it gives me hope even after difficulties and all my sadness. Sometimes everything is difficult and I can't wait to relieve myself at the Happiness Lesson."

"The Happiness Lesson is good because we learn to treat each other with love and respect. We strengthen help and forgiveness in each other, and this is one of my favorite classes."

"What I like about the Happiness Lessons is that I can say my bad feelings. It's good because there aren’t as many fights and hurtful gestures in the class as before, and I'm also improving my skills."