Happiness lessons in Mödling: Children discover the secret of happiness!

Happiness lessons in Mödling: Children discover the secret of happiness!

In the elementary school on Hyrltplatz in Mödling, an extraordinary teaching project takes place: happiness lessons, under the direction of teacher Stefanie Hörl, teaches children what happiness really means. The students of the 3a create colorful balloons on which they write their personal definitions of happiness - from family to cats to football. "The children learn in a playful way what makes them really happy," emphasizes Hörl, who at the same time wants to integrate awareness of happiness and positive thinking into everyday school life. According to noe.orf.at the lessons aim to strengthen the personality development and the sense of community and bring the children closer to themselves.

The happiness lessons are embedded in the entire everyday school life, not only limited to one hour a week. Through joint projects such as the "lucky tree", the children have the opportunity to creatively express their thoughts to luck. Every child designs a piece of the tree on which it records what makes it happy. The students often experience happiness as a soothing feeling in the heart. "It is really nice and warm," explains one student, "and it makes you smile". This insight reflects the knowledge of the positive psychology, which serves as the basis of happiness lessons, as in the advanced training of glueckskompetenz.at

In addition, teachers receive practical exercises to make the topic of happiness alive. These exercises are intended to help bring a smile to every classroom and to promote the happiness of the students. The children learn that happiness can not only be felt, but also learned - an important teaching that is also anchored in the theory of positive psychology. "Happiness lessons helped me to understand what happiness is," says a student who can proudly share the progress in her learning.