Every single adult gets to the point where they know right from wrong, even with those small inconvenient things such as having to ditch unhealthy food and swap to something healthier, getting up even if you want to sleep in, or not buying something you really want. It takes years, so many years, to get to this level where you do things, knowing you have to do them even if you dislike them.
In general, teaching your kid to be responsible all ties in with self-discipline. But usually, this development starts in childhood, and the earlier they kick in, the easier it’s going to be on you and your child. Plus, this is going to give them a leg up too! So, when it comes to self-discipline for your little one, here is everything you need to know!
Start Early
It’s important to start teaching your child self-discipline early. This will help them delay gratification and resist unhealthy temptations, as well as tolerate discomfort when necessary to reach their long-term goals. It also helps them to understand the consequences of their behavior. Explain what will happen if they don’t follow through on their tasks or do the right thing.
Have Routines
Routines are a great way to teach your child self-discipline. They’re easy to implement, scalable, and can help your child build good habits. If you think about it, as an adult, you have a routine. You’ll feel “off” if these routines get broken, and it’s fairly similar for kids too. Plus, they can also make it easier to manage their time. For example, if you have a set time for brushing their teeth and dressing up before bed, your child will learn to be more organized when they have a clear timeline.
It’s important to remember that routines take time to become a habit. That’s why rewarding good behavior is important, but keep the end goal in mind. It makes it easier for this to stick as a habit rather than a punishment (since some kids think baths and teeth brushing are).
Set Limits
While it’s important to teach your kid that they can do anything they set their mind to, sometimes limits need to be put into place. For instance, you’re not going to want them to know how to bypass school WIFI (as this could get them into trouble). Setting limits is a critical part of teaching your child self-discipline.
It stops unwanted behaviors, provides safe boundaries, and helps children become responsible individuals who are willing to accept the consequences of their actions. It’s important to set reasonable limits and explain why they are in place. It’s essentially boundaries that they know they can’t break without serious consequences.
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A good reward system can help motivate kids to do what you ask. It can include tangible rewards (stickers, small toys, treats, privileges) or even intangible rewards too, but the overall feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction needs to be there, and rewards usually help make it happen. Reward systems are most effective when they’re applied consistently. They can also be used to address specific behavior problems like bedtime, eating, and cleaning up. This is something that ideally starts when they’re very young.
