As parents, it’s your responsibility to equip your children with the skills necessary to succeed. And the power of good habits may be the greatest gift parents can give their children.
Sure, there isn’t much you can do about your child’s personality; it’s innate. But, by definition, your child’s habits are acquired modes of behavior. A habit is what you repeatedly do until it becomes effortless. Then, with time, your child does it without complaints, hesitation, or debate.
Teaching children good habits makes it easier for them to achieve their goals. Besides building confidence, it helps them thrive in future workplaces, daily interactions, and personal relationships.
Schools may teach some of these values, but parents should play a more significant role in teaching these.
How to teach good habits to your children
1. Make realistic goals
Learning good habits should be fun and exciting during your child’s formative years. So don’t go overboard with your expectations. Your kid is still small, and they will make mistakes at some point, so you need patience with them (remember there are habits you are still learning to this day).
Also, remember, not everyone has the same ability and won’t achieve the same level of success when they grow. So it’s essential to avoid cut-throat competition between your children. Instead, encourage social challenges where they assist each other to win.
2. Stay positive
Having an optimistic outlook promotes happiness and comfort in your household. A positive mindset is critical during your child’s initial years. Try to maintain a positive attitude around your kids, and your lessons will stick.
Often, children who grow up around pessimism and constant criticism develop anxiety, depression, or negativity as adults. So avoid coercion, negative comments, unfair comparisons, or focusing on their failures rather than their successes.
A positive and calm home also helps you participate in your child’s growth because this helps them become more forthcoming.
3. Encourage good eating habits
Your child’s nutrition is essential for their growth, health, and future. Therefore, you need to establish healthy eating habits early.
There are several ways to encourage healthy eating habits. They include family meals, serving various nutritious foods and snacks, avoiding battles over food, and eating healthy yourself. Also, try to make mealtimes friendly — this shouldn’t be the time for coercion, lectures, or arguing.
Help your children understand healthy foods and try to involve them in choosing your menu or ingredients. For example, if they choose a snack at the supermarket, ask them to read out the ingredients on the label. Then explain why some of these ingredients are bad for them or why they should avoid instant foods with harmful components.
That is not to say they will start craving broccoli and kale over french fries. But it sets them on a path of nutritious living.
4. Choose appropriate rewards
A reward is an excellent way to ensure your kid sticks with their good habits. Prizes may have a more significant impact on your child than punishments. It shows the child that you are focusing on their triumphs rather than their failures.
However, avoid tangible rewards like toys, food, or TV/game time. Instead, offer intangible rewards like hugs, a day out, a visit to the playground, or a word of appreciation. It helps your child to understand that enriching experiences offer greater happiness than short-lasting tangible rewards.
Also, you can encourage them by sharing their success with their friends, grandparents, or friendly relatives.
5. Encourage healthy indoor and outdoor activities
Physical activities, friends, and family bonding activities are great ways to encourage good habits. These interactions instill the spirit of companionship, sharing, communication, and creating healthy boundaries.
Today, more and more children suffer from lifestyle diseases, and physical activities can help reduce the chances of getting such conditions.
Healthy indoor activities involve reading and a good technology-life balance. So try to limit their screen time without becoming too imposing.
Growing up with your children
The modern world is stressful, fast-paced, and expensive for most parents. But besides providence, the most significant role of a parent is in developing good habits in your child’s life. Instilling such habits in children, from money management to healthy eating, need you to be patient, empathetic, and available.
