Children are like sponges and helping them to adopt good habits from an early age will help them develop and be much happier. The sooner they adopt them, the easier it will be for them to carry them out and do them automatically. Let's see some tips on how to teach your child to change habits and we will also see what are the best habits for them.
Better habits for kids
- Cleanliness. Good grooming habits go far beyond taking a daily bath. When they are the right age, we must teach them to brush their teeth every day as part of your routine to prevent cavities and dental problems. That they go clean and with a good appearance, to wash their hands before eating, to wash their face when they wake up, to comb their hair ... these are other essential hygiene habits for a person.
- Eating and resting routines. Children need routines to feel confident. They have to have food and sleep routines, where they have schedules that have to be met. Skipping them on vacation is one thing, but the rest of the year routines must be respected by both children and parents. Restful sleep will help your brain development and help you be more rested and less irritated. If you need to know how long they need to sleep by age, we leave you this article.
- Order and organization. Children must participate in the order and organization of the house, especially its things. This way they will learn the value of responsibility and to take charge of their things. Depending on their age, we can give them certain responsibilities at home so that they can acquire those habits.
- good manners. Manners is something you learn at home and not at school. That he behaves well outside the home, that he knows how to react to certain situations, that he has values ... will help him to know how to relate to his environment and to know how to be in public. They are still children, but if we give them the tools, coexistence will be much better for everyone.
How to teach your child to change habits
- Don't yell or punish him. Punishing and yelling are not a good habit-changing technique. On the contrary, the child will not know what he is doing wrong and will become frustrated. The weather will become more hostile and you will also be more irritated.
- Give you another option. If he has a bad habit, help him find alternative habits that are good for him. Maybe that habit gives you some pleasure, so you should look for a healthier one for him to make him feel alike.
- Respect your child's times. Each child has a different development, so you have to respect their times. If they have bad habits related to their age (thumb sucking, nail biting…) scolding them or making them feel bad will only aggravate the bad habit. We will have to explain why it is wrong and analyze what is the reason why they do it. It can be a sign of nervousness, anxiety ... we look beyond to help them. Consult with his doctor if you see something unusual or if he has a habit that is harmful to him.
- Give example. We cannot ask a child to be polite and not swear, if we say them all the time. Children learn mostly by imitation, so before we ask our child for anything, we must see if we comply with that habit. If we want him to eat more vegetables and fruit, we should too.
- Be patient. Your child may push your patience to the limit, it is normal. You have to try to stay calm and be patient in changing habits. Respect their process and give them space to change them without pressing them. Some children will learn new habits faster than others, it just takes a little more time and patience.
Because remember ... habits can be changed for more appropriate ones, you just have to be a good teacher and help them in the process.