The importance of teaching good habits to children early cannot be overstated. If you look back at your own life, you will see that the person that you are and the achievements that you have had are essentially a function of your habits. Habit formation is the process by which behaviors become automatic. The behaviors, in turn, determine the course that our life will take. Some habits can promote physical and mental wellness, while others might have more of an unwanted impact on your everyday life. This is not to say that habits cannot be changed. However, habits developed early tend to stick. It is important, therefore, to ensure that the child picks up habits that are conducive to their physical and mental health. Before we look at 10 habits that children will benefit from, let us spend a little time looking at the importance of good habits in the first place.

Importance of Healthy Habits

• Habits impact behavior and, in turn, impact the personality
• Good habits are the stepping stones for you to achieve your goals. In other words, they build a foundation for life.
• They help us lead a balanced life
• Good habits are key to staying motivated

How to Develop Good Habits among Children?

First things first. Children learn far more than seeing what is happening around them than being told what to do. It stands to reason that setting a good example for children is critical. When they see you practicing the habits you recommend for them, they are likely to imbibe them. That said, a little guidance and effort can go a long way in making good habits, their companions for life. Ensuring a routine where they follow these habits is critical. While you set firm ground rules, ensure that you also motivate the child as you go along. A word of caution here- while we typically reward results, it is essential to acknowledge the child’s efforts to keep them motivated. Finally, stay involved with the child and remain realistic. The child will make mistakes along the way. The key is to help them learn from their mistakes.

10 Healthy Habits for Children

That said, let us look at 10 healthy habits that you need to help your child pick up early.

1. Eat Healthy

A child’s relationship with food is established early. It is imperative, therefore, that habits around healthy eating are also developed early. Data from the World Health Organization shows that over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight in 2022, including 160 million who were living with obesity. It is essential that children be taught to eat healthy. Remember that they are likely to follow your lead. Keep them away from junk food, including vegetables and fruits, in their diet. Creativity in food preparation and presentation can also help them take to nutritious food. Ensure that they eat a healthy breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day, and have enough water during the day. This is not just about healthy eating; this is also the time to teach them the importance of not wasting food. These are lessons that will last well into adulthood.

2. Basic Hygiene

Childhood is also the best time to teach children about basic hygiene. Whether they brush their teeth twice a day, wash their hands before meals, take a bath, or do other activities, these lessons will ensure that they remain healthy.

3. Physical Activity

The importance of inculcating this cannot be overstated significantly since we live in times known for sedentary lifestyles and where screen times are a reality. Ensure that the child spends enough time outdoors. You can also take a walk as a family activity. It will undoubtedly have health benefits- it will also give you much-needed quality time with your child. While on the subject, it is also crucial that screen time is kept under limit. Excessive screen usage is known to cause overstimulation, which leads to problems in socio-emotional development and hinders social and emotional competence. Even where it is allowed, it helps to have small sessions with breaks in between.

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4. Discipline and value of time

A lesson that sticks when taught early is the value of time. Ensure that children are encouraged to be punctual in all their activities. Following a specific routine will also instill in them a sense of discipline, one of the most robust markers of success in later life.

5. Sharing

Children need to be taught early the importance of sharing the feelings of others. It will help to teach them to share their belongings, wait for their turn on the swing in the park, and more. Importantly, they also need to describe and label their own feelings as well as the feelings of others. While on the subject, it is also important to teach them that while all emotions are welcome, all ways of expressing emotions are not.

6. Responsibility

A sense of responsibility is best instilled early. Children need to be given age-appropriate chores. Think of getting them to help with laying the table, folding laundry, and more. In time, they will automatically learn to take responsibility, and that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand.

7. Cleanliness

The principle of cleanliness being next to Godliness is best demonstrated in the house early. It will enable children to keep their surroundings clean. They will learn to put things in their respective places. Eventually, they will also discover that decluttering isn’t just limited to physical objects.

8. Reading

Encourage the child to read early. Storytelling can pique interest in the stages that the child cannot read by himself. Having a designated hour that you read aloud helps. Needless to say, if the child sees adults around reading books, this habit is subliminally passed on.

9. Positive Self-talk

Another thing you can teach early that will make a difference in their lives is the power of affirmations. Each day before going to school, let them stand in front of the mirror and have a positive self-talk with themselves. An affirmation about making the best out of the day for instance will become a part of their life and help them navigate many issues.

10. Attitude of gratitude

Healthy habits for students involve developing an attitude of gratitude early. This positive mindset will help them go through the ups and downs of life with ease. Get a gratitude jar and encourage each family member to drop a note stating what they are grateful for at the end of the day. You could also begin by writing a gratitude journal. Once the mind is trained to look for the good, it will become a way of life.

At Footprints, a chain of preschools that has emerged as a parenting partner, a lot of emphasis is given to the child’s holistic development. Healthy habits are an important foundation on which the child’s development rests. Here’s to raising a physically and mentally healthy generation!