Good habits reap great benefits in the future. And inculcating these in kids is an integral part of parenting. As parents, we put in lots of effort to develop good habits in our kids. But at times, it is not an easy process!
With the transition to online schooling, our kids are now spending more time at home. You can use this time effectively to develop good habits in your kids.
Here are 6 simple techniques to help children develop excellent habits:
1. Establish clear family rules
Your family rules are imperative to encourage good habits in your kids. Help your child to become responsible in life. And let him/her understand the relevance of time management in everyday life. Start with creating a time planner/schedule and allocate all the important tasks at a specific time of the day.
Allow playtime, mobile phone/device usage, and set aside some hours to promote physical activities such as yoga, sports, dancing or exercise, etc. And avoid being too obsessed with the study time. These simple rules will lay the foundation of intrinsic discipline in your child. And you will be able to manage their time and energy appropriately without any hassles.
Now that the homeschooling trend is here to stay, you can also choose a fully online school and reduce your overall stress. And you can be assured about the quality of online classes provided to your child.
2. Stay respectful and model the right behavior
It is true that ‘parents are the first teachers of the child’
Your selection of words and attitude has a make or break effect on your child. This means that to develop good habits in your child, you need to start by watching your own behavior. Avoid using negative words or statements. And make sure you do not use objectionable language at any point in time. Reiterate the use of thank you, sorry, and ‘may I’, and remind the child to use these every now and then.
Your own behavior shapes up your child’s personality. So make sure that your child gets the right family atmosphere in the habit formation years. Never compare your child with other kids. And try to keep calm in all situations. Let the child witness your resilient and problem-solving attitude. And try to encourage his/her participation in simple issues of everyday life. Spend some quality time with your family despite hectic schedules. And make sure the family members feel a sense of belongingness and develop close bonds. All this will help the child to learn good habits.
3. Reinforce desirable behavior
Motivate your child for good behavior by rewarding and appreciating. Let the child comprehend the importance of behaving well. Because this will help him/her to stick to good habits in the long run. A small chocolate, sticker, or a thumbs-up can do wonders with habit formation. So make sure you never miss an opportunity to appreciate the child. Try to be genuine with your compliments. And appreciate the child in the presence of others as well.
4. Stay positive
As a parent, you must have faith in the innate capabilities of your child. Do not underestimate your child’s capacity to learn and adapt. And stay positive about his/her grasping power despite errors or mistakes. Many times, parents have unrealistic expectations from their kids. And this makes them more anxious and stressed out while dealing with the child.
Kids do not have rich experiences as adults do. They are bound to get influenced by others. And this might clash with your ideologies and rules set at home. Learn to tackle situations with a calm mind and explain the logic behind family rules to the child. If your child makes a mistake, do not let the situation slip out of your hands by shouting and yelling in anger. Instead, speak to the child mindfully only once you are calm. And make him/her understand the repercussions of these actions using age-appropriate examples.
Your positive attitude and the ability to manage situations help your child to develop good habits. And eventually, he/she will learn how to solve problems and to focus on what can be done instead of all that cannot be done.
5. Encourage interaction and be a good listener
Allow your child to share his/her experiences with you. Listen patiently when the child speaks, and make him/her feel valued. Do not demean or interrupt unnecessarily. Instead, give the child more opportunities to interact and share his/her inputs. Simple participation in festive decoration, selecting meal options, and destinations for a family outing can help your child develop a sense of responsibility. Besides, these experiences will also teach the child the habit to plan an action before executing it.
6. Accept perceptions and viewpoints
Another aspect that helps in habit formation is the acceptance of viewpoints in the family. Try to respect the child’s perceptions irrespective of his/her age. This helps children to develop good self-esteem. And they feel important within the family. Never tell the child that his/her opinion is kiddish (even if it is). Instead, treat the child like an individual with a unique thought process.
Accepting viewpoints does not mean that you do not teach the difference between good and bad. Instead, it is just about being respectful towards the child and treating him/her as an individual.
Final Thoughts
Childhood is a critical stage for habit formation. Use these ways to inculcate good habits and morals in your kids. And stay positive that your efforts will turn out to be fruitful in the future.
Get the right schooling atmosphere that can support the inculcation of good habits in your kids.
Thanks for Reading!
