7 Tips to Break Children’s Bad Habits
Just like adults, kids end up having some bad habits. And just like adults, it is not very easy to convince the kids that what they are doing is wrong and that they need to change themselves. We give you some of the ways in which you, as an adult or a parent, can break your children’s bad habits.
1. Know how to point out a bad habit
The first thing to understand when you wish to break your child’s bad habit is that it is important to point it out in the correct manner. If you react in a very angry manner or start judging the child or make him/her feel embarrassed or frown upon what your child is doing, then he/she will not be in a good enough frame of mind to listen to what you have to say. You must try and react in a very gentle manner and politely point out the habit you think is not doing any good to your child.
2. Make the child think
Once you point out that the child has a bad habit, try to explain the consequences of the habit with the help of third person examples. You can use fictional names and ask the child, “How would you feel if another kid did this to you?” You could narrate a made up story to them showing how a bad habit can lead to a bad result. This will make your children think about how a particular bad habit is affecting them and those around them.
3. Give them rational reasons
It is not just enough to tell your child, “Don’t bite your nails” or “Don’t eat with your mouth open.” You must give them some genuine reasons why a particular habit is not good. Kids have an inquisitive mind and every time you ask them not to do something, they would want to know, “Why not?” So, make sure you explain to them why a particular habit is bad. This way, they will not just pretend that they have changed in your presence, but they will also stay away from a bad habit even when you are not around.
4. Use incentive as motivation
Some bad habits are not as easy to break as others. In such scenarios, you might have to give the child some incentive in order to motivate him or her to change for the better. Make sure that the incentive you give is something that would indirectly aid in the child’s overall development. So, instead of giving money or candy as an incentive, tell your children that you would take them to the museum or the zoo, if they break a particular bad habit.
