Our health and well-being are significantly influenced by our habits. Instilling positive habits in your children at the very early developmental stages is extremely beneficial for their future well-being and health. Creating a routine-based, disciplined behavior can be achieved through small adjustments you make in your child’s life which can lead to remarkable results over time. This is your guide to enhance the overall quality of your child’s life by introducing positive discipline through habits.
Start simple - From basics to Value-Based Habits
Children can grasp simple routines easily. Think about the behavior you would like to see in your child. Envision the habits you want to enforce, narrowing them down to few most important habits. Start simple with the basic self-care such as brushing teeth before bed. Pay attention to value-based long-term habits such as daily 5-minute reading or writing a journal.
Creating the environment
“Environment is the invisible hand that shapes behavior” – James Clear
Creating an environment conducive to good habits is vital. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about the importance of creating visual cues in the environment for habit formation. You can apply this theory for your children accordingly. For an instance, if you want your child to read more, make books an obvious part of your home. Keep books around your child’s room or create a quiet reading space in a corner. Create a quiet and peaceful atmosphere in your home to promote the action of reading.
Consistency
Keeping track of your child’s habitual behavior is important. Your guidance is crucial when instilling habits in your children. Make sure they follow your instruction for certain period for the behavior to become automatic. Creating a chart and involving your child to check the productivity can be done as a bonding activity as well.
Applying the laws of James Clear
In his book, James Clear introduces 4 laws applicable in habit formation. You can apply these laws in your children’s life as well as in your life.
Make the habits Obvious
Simplifying the action, helping children with simple instructions with loving guidance can go a long way. You can encourage the habits you wish to create and discourage negative habits by removing the cues and triggers in your home environment. For instance: If you want your child to consume less sugar, keep them out of their sight and reach, making the habit “less obvious”.
Make them Attractive
Modeling the behavior can make the habit attractive to your children. As the children tend to idealize their parental figures, being a role model to your kids can pave way behavioral changes. Introduce social/peer groups to your child that exhibit the same behaviors you desire to see in your children. Allow choices and encourage to act independently to make the habit more attractive to perform.
Make it Easy
Oftentimes we forget our kids are kids. To make the habits obvious, make it easy for your child to figure out what they need to do. If you find it difficult to teach your kid to study after school, create a study station with all the study materials and stationery easily accessed to them.
Make the habits Satisfying
Rewarding your children for their good behavior encourages more good behavior. Always praise the good actions of your children, avoiding criticism. Make them feel seen and appreciated for their good habits to make the habit seem satisfying.
Just as habits have the power to transform personal and professional lives, they can revolutionize positive parenting. By incorporating small, consistent habits into daily routines, parents can guide their children towards well-behaved and responsible behavior. The application of this concept of positive discipline provides a realistic and sustainable approach to parenting, fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for children to thrive.
