Spoil your kids with physical affection. Study after study show that this can have positive long term effects. According to the Grant Study , the most expensive and encompassing 75 year longevity study, the 75 year olds who had "life satisfaction" and happy had one thing in common: they felt closeness with their parent. The decades old idea that you can spoil a child with affection is to be ignored (although you can spoil your child with other things). Be liberal with those hugs and kisses. (It's good for adults too.) How a Parent's Affection Shapes the Child's Happiness for Life What else makes a good parent? Here are 10 competencies. The most important: Love and affection. No surprise there. Number two seems to surprise parents... What Makes A Good Parent Scientific American CONSIDER THIS Build in an affection ritual. Every morning and every evening, have a cuddle. What parenting competency would you like to ...