What makes most children so happy most of the time?

East Sussex headteacher Mike Fairclough explores what makes children happy in his new book – and how adults can follow suit.
Mike FaircloughMike Fairclough
Mike Fairclough

Wild Thing: Embracing Childhood Traits in Adulthood for a Happier, More Carefree Life has been published by Hay House, paperback £10.99; Kindle £4.74; there is also an audio version. It is available from Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Penguin Random House and from all other major book distributors.

Mike, aged 49, who lives in Ninfield, said: “I have been a teacher and headteacher for 25 years. I have also had four of my own children.

“During this time, I have observed how children behave and wondered what makes most of them so happy the majority of the time.

“Five years ago, I began to undertake research into this. I looked at fields such as positive psychology and studied the behaviours of the children in my care.

“After a while I realised that the root of children’s happiness is imagination. They are also brimming with certain traits, such as playfulness, the spirit of adventure and gratitude. Most children are also avid risk-takers.

“I then undertook some action research at the school where I am the headteacher and encouraged the staff at my school to embrace these ‘lost’ childhood traits of playfulness etc.

“Drawing on my memory of my own wild childhood and my observations of the hundreds of children who I have taught over the years, I combined what I had seen with things I had learned from my work with character education and started to write Wild Thing.

“Now, more than ever, we need to look after our emotional and mental health. I believe that children hold the key for this within the adult world.

“Traits, such as playfulness and risk-taking, which generally get drummed out of us as we grow beyond childhood, can be unleashed again, for a happier, more carefree life.

“The book is semi-autobiographical and I weave stories from my childhood, right up to the time that I lost my first wife (and mother to my two boys) to cancer ten years ago.

“I have written the book from the heart and it took me to some powerful places so that I could describe the concept of adults adopting childhood traits.

“I wrote it because I love writing.

“I have already written a book, Playing With Fire, back in 2015 and frequently write for magazines, such as the education magazine, TES. When I write I don’t always know where the writing will take me.

“The same was true for Wild Thing, which felt like I was being taken on a journey and I wrote it.

“I intend to write a sequel to Wild Thing, although I haven’t started it yet and don’t know exactly what it will be like. In a similar way to Wild Thing, I’ll just start writing and see where the writing takes me.”

Playing With Fire was about risk and danger in schools.

“My school, West Rise Junior School, in Eastbourne, has been at the forefront of outdoor learning for over a decade. I have appeared with the school in most of the national newspapers, on BBC Countryfile, Blue Peter, BBC News and others.

“One Channel 4 News item about our outdoor learning was seen 17 million times on Facebook alone.

“In light of the media attention and people asking “So how do you get away with it?” (I take my pupils shooting, fishing, fire lighting, beekeeping and we have a herd of water buffalo at the school) I decided to write the book to explain how other schools can adopt this approach top education.

“I started writing for the education magazine TES about ten years ago. They approached me and asked me to write for them on subjects linked to my educational ethos. Once I got started I found writing quite addictive. It’s a hobby for me and something which I do for pleasure.”

Promoting the book is tricky amid the lockdown.

“But I hope to do a book launch in London and will be asking the Duchess of York, who has endorsed the book, and the children’s author Jacqueline Wilson, who also endorsed the book, to speak at the event.

“I will also do a book launch in India where the book is being released in April 2021. I am married to an Indian lady and my first trip to India is featured in the book.”

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