the wrong question. Unesco has been
pouring billions of dollars into programmes designed to help at-risk teens
across the globe for decades. Teens
plagued by violence, crime, poverty, teen
pregnancy, drugs and all manner of social
ills. It then decided to analyse the net effect of its programmes designed to help
these vulnerable populations. It studied
its programmes running in 32 countries
from 1959-2000. Says Ben Shahar, “These
were smart people, with good intentions,
with lots and lots of money. And the
study showed the net effect of their programmes was… zero. That’s because all
these programmes started with the same
premise. They all asked the same question. Why do these teens fail?”
• Superkids set future goals, they live with purpose. “When you have a ‘whatfor’, every ‘how’ becomes possible.”
• Superkids give or volunteer. The word Natan, in Hebrew too, is a palindrome, you
receive as much (if not more) than you give.
• Superkids have an optimistic outlook. Optimism can and must be taught. Ben
Shahar recommended the book The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman.
• Superkids have role models. Let kids read biographies and watch movies that
bring role models to life. The best kinds show the ups and downs of their lives.
• Superkids know their own strengths, and what gives them strength, what energises them.
• Superkids do exercise. This means 30 minutes of getting their heart rates up
three times a week (dancing is fine). Exercise has the same effect as powerful psychiatric medication, and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia by 52%.
• Superkids practise gratitude. Studies have s