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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones,
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BALUKOV
Here are some of main ideas and tips on how to help your children build better habits:
- Start with an incredibly small habit. Make it so easy they can’t say no. For example, if you want your child to read more, start with one page per day. If you want them to brush their teeth, start with 30 seconds. The goal is to make the habit as effortless as possible at first, so they can build confidence and momentum.
- Increase the habit in very small ways. Once your child has established a basic habit, you can gradually increase the difficulty and duration. For example, you can add one more page or 10 more seconds every week. The key is to make the habit challenging enough to be interesting, but not so hard that it becomes frustrating or overwhelming.
- Break habits into chunks. If your child has a habit that is too long or complex to do in one go, you can break it into smaller segments. For example, if you want your child to study for an hour, you can split it into four sessions of 15 minutes, with breaks in between. This way, your child can focus better and avoid boredom or fatigue.
- When they slip, get them back on track quickly. No one is perfect, and your child will inevitably miss a day or make a mistake. The important thing is not to let a single lapse turn into a permanent failure. Help your child to resume their habit as soon as possible, and remind them of the benefits and rewards of sticking to it. Don’t scold or shame them, but encourage and support them.
- Make the habit attractive and satisfying. One of the best ways to motivate your child to form a new habit is to make it fun and enjoyable. You can do this by linking the habit to something they already like, or by adding a positive reinforcement after they do it. For example, you can let your child listen to their favorite music while they do their homework, or give them a sticker or a hug when they finish. The more your child associates the habit with pleasure, the more likely they are to repeat it.
- Start with an incredibly small habit. Make it so easy they can’t say no. For example, if you want your child to read more, start with one page per day. If you want them to brush their teeth, start with 30 seconds. The goal is to make the habit as effortless as possible at first, so they can build confidence and momentum.
- Increase the habit in very small ways. Once your child has established a basic habit, you can gradually increase the difficulty and duration. For example, you can add one more page or 10 more seconds every week. The key is to make the habit challenging enough to be interesting, but not so hard that it becomes frustrating or overwhelming.
- Break habits into chunks. If your child has a habit that is too long or complex to do in one go, you can break it into smaller segments. For example, if you want your child to study for an hour, you can split it into four sessions of 15 minutes, with breaks in between. This way, your child can focus better and avoid boredom or fatigue.
- When they slip, get them back on track quickly. No one is perfect, and your child will inevitably miss a day or make a mistake. The important thing is not to let a single lapse turn into a permanent failure. Help your child to resume their habit as soon as possible, and remind them of the benefits and rewards of sticking to it. Don’t scold or shame them, but encourage and support them.
- Make the habit attractive and satisfying. One of the best ways to motivate your child to form a new habit is to make it fun and enjoyable. You can do this by linking the habit to something they already like, or by adding a positive reinforcement after they do it. For example, you can let your child listen to their favorite music while they do their homework, or give them a sticker or a hug when they finish. The more your child associates the habit with pleasure, the more likely they are to repeat it.
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