In the first part of our three-part series, we asked Danish children what makes life good. Here’s what they told us about their friends and families.

What’s the number one thing Danish kids want? A loving family.

Good lives come in all shapes and sizes, but for most of the Danish kids we interviewed, there were a few common threads. Among the children we spoke to, ages 6 to 16, 75% said that knowing their family loves them is the most important factor in a good family life.

As children grow, they especially want their parents to show love in different ways. Younger kids see love in their parents being there to care for them—whether it’s cleaning a scraped knee or playing a game to keep them from getting bored. For older children, the key is listening.

Based on our research, we think parents can do three things to create a better family life for their kids:

1. Give Kids a Voice

The youngest children we interviewed wanted more say in their daily lives—like what they eat or what they do with their pocket money. This doesn’t mean handing over a bag of candy or letting your child stay up all night. But can your child make small decisions, such as choosing between two sweaters to wear to the store?

Older kids also like making decisions—especially about where they go and what they do in their free time.

“I think you could have a ‘Kid’s Day’ where kids get to decide what’s for dinner.” —Otto, 7

2. Be Interested, but Not Too Interested

When children—especially older ones—tell you things, they want you to listen. But if they haven’t chosen to share, they might not want to be interrogated. If you pepper an older child with questions as soon as they walk in the door after school, don’t be surprised if you don’t get the best responses.

“When they ask so many questions, you often feel a bit pressured, so I end up getting a bit moody or curt.” —Salina, 14

3. Have Fun Together!

Kids who spend happy times with their families generally have a more positive outlook on life. They tell us they feel less lonely and more optimistic about the future when they think of the fun they’ve had together. Compared to kids who say they don’t have as much fun, they get along better with their families.

This isn’t just true for the youngest kids. Teens might prefer spending more time with friends, but they can still enjoy a bit of silliness now and then.

So, plan a camping trip, set aside time for a monthly board game night, or fire up the karaoke machine at the next family birthday party. Your kids (yes, even the teens) might want more fun than you think.

“Adults can be childish sometimes. Mainly our dad. Sometimes he’s almost like one of us. But it’s fun.” —Leah, 15