That’s the sage advice of Victoria DeLuise, a teacher in the Academics Plus program for gifted children in Glen Cove, New York. “Learning how to be compassionate and empathetic—that usually doesn’t happen when you’re sitting by yourself in front of a screen, watching television or playing videogames,” she observes. Face it, it’s hard to learn verbal or social skills from a flat screen. Interact with your child in meaningful and memorable ways and encourage their social interactions with others. They’ll develop critically important social skills that will be essential throughout their lives.

The research backs this up. According to Stephen Post, PhD, and Jill Neimark, authors of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, “Generous behavior is closely associated with reduced risk of illness and mortality and lower rates of depression. Even more remarkable, giving is linked to traits that undergird a successful life, such as social competence, empathy, and positive emotion.” The upshot? The more you give, the happier you’ll be, and the better equipped you’ll be to learn and face the day.

Try This At Home: Ever notice how when you love to do something, you spend more time doing it? Ask your child to teach you something she loves to do, whether it’s singing a favorite song, drawing a purple monster with blue hair, or copying her favorite dance moves for the garden fairies. Then think about who else you could show—maybe a younger sibling or neighbor.