--- title: 20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science description: Where You Live Matters Via 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: People who are highly satisfied with their neighborhood are 25 percent more likely to... canonical: https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-06T04:01:17.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:02.981Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science og:description: Where You Live Matters Via 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: People who are highly satisfied with their neighborhood are 25 percent more likely to... og:url: https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science twitter:description: Where You Live Matters Via 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: People who are highly satisfied with their neighborhood are 25 percent more likely to... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # 20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker May 6, 2014 4:01 AM CUT by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker May 6, 2014 4:01 AM CUT ## Where You Live Matters Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Open Communication Is A Must Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Tell The Family Story Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): (More on the value of telling family stories [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/ "undefined").) ## To Communicate Values To Kids, Focus On Closeness, Not Lectures Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Like It Or Not, You Are A Role Model To Your Children Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## To Be Happy With Your Family, Be Open To Change Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## We Love Those Who Show Love Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## They Need You To Be Positive When Times Are Tough Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## History Beats Apology Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Try To Be Fair, Not Right Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## The Secret To Work/Life Balance Is A Feeling Of Control Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Discussing Tough Subjects Pays Dividends Later Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Happiness Is Determined By What You Think About Most Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): (The things proven to make you happier are [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/ "undefined").) ## Family Rituals Matter Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): (More on how rituals make life better [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/francesca-gino/ "undefined").) ## Kids That Pick Their Activities Enjoy School Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Separate Your Work And Family Life Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Coping With In-Laws Is Worth It Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## Fido Helps Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): (What your pet says about your personality is [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/8-things-your-choice-of-pet-says-about-your-p/ "undefined").) ## Kids Need More Than Just Mom And Dad Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): (Bruce Feiler, author of [The Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089LOHHO/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0089LOHHO&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"), presents some excellent research on why grandmoms are so important [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/ "undefined").) ## Anyone Can Have A Happy Family Via [100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1PHK/?tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): ## What’s Next? Here are three other research-backed posts that can help build a great family: 1. [How To Have A Happy Family – 7 Tips Backed By Research](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-have-a-happy-family/ "undefined") 2. [Recipe For A Happy Marriage: The 7 Scientific Secrets](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/recipe-for-a-happy-marriage-2/ "undefined") 3. [Good Parenting Skills: 7 Research-Backed Ways to Raise Kids Right](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/good-parenting-skills/ "undefined") **For more helpful tips, join 45K+ other readers and get my free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/"},"headline":"20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science","datePublished":"2014-05-06T04:01:17.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:02.981Z","description":"Where You Live Matters Via 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: People who are highly satisfied with their neighborhood are 25 percent more likely to...","url":"https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/","keywords":["Parenting","Family & Parenting"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/parenting/","name":"Parenting"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/88586/20-simple-secrets-of-happy-families-all-backed-by-science/","name":"20 Simple Secrets Of Happy Families – All Backed By Science"}}]}] ```