Given a choice in the digital age, where everything is instantaneous, would you prefer to pamper your child with all materialistic benefits and irregular/ bad habits or prefer to follow the old school approach of discipline and development of habits. As a new age parent, our outlook is to let our child free to act, think and talk. Although this is a very important quality to develop independent thinking, it does not mean you leave them unsupervised at their free will.

A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic. Habits are not formed overnight, through several iterations of trial and error and repetition, they become a part of us. Our belief system defines our habits, a system oriented approach focuses on continuous improvement rather than a specific result.

Don't underestimate the importance of making small improvements on a daily basis. The best example to understand the statement is a sports person training to become an Olympic champion. Here success does not happen instantly, it is several years of training, efforts and good habits that result in monumental success at Olympic games.

A system is a process-based approach that leads to results. Behind every system of action, there is a system of beliefs. If you believe your child should not be forced to do a task, subconsciously you encourage your child to leave homework incomplete, procrastinate learning for tests etc. A systems approach of good study habits will help you develop a learning schedule, say 1 hour in the evening for completing homework, 1 hour for revising lessons and bed time story book reading. Despite all the efforts and study habits, if they get only average grades, appreciate and reward them for being consistent in the process-based approach rather than looking at the results and discouraging them. Year on year this approach would result in a continuous small improvement and finally a breakthrough.

Not only for academic but also encourage healthy habits for children like healthy eating habits, having healthy food and at particular time , physical activity , less screen time and also social skills.

Benefits of building good habits:

• First and the foremost benefit is the child starts doing the daily routine on his or her own.
• Developing a positive mind-set as the child grows.
• Opportunity to face more success in future.
• Possibility to speak only the truth as we live with people who are around us are selfish and self-centered and dishonesty.
• Building good habits for your child boosts confidence and responsibility in all aspects.

Think about how you can contribute in developing a system-based approach for developing good habits in your child. Each child is unique, there is no standard template that fits all. As a mother, understand your child and identify habits you want them to change and develop. As a parent, I vote for building good habits for our kids as they must understand the efforts and pain taken from the parents for holistic development of their children.

Check How to Master Your Child Skills 

Lakshmi Sakthi Alagappan lives in Thanjavur in Tamilnadu, India. She is an  administrative officer at Blossom Public School. She likes reading books, listening to music and surfing.

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