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12 Good Habits That Kids Should Have

The habits of your kid reflects your parenting techniques. All parents want to raise kids by teaching them good habits. But the success of your parenting mission will be possible only if you know what are the good habits that your kids must have. Every child is different and while you must try to inculcate positive habits in your kids, you must not undermine their individuality.

That is why every parent must have a list of some basic good habits that their kids must develop. These habits are universally accepted the manners of happy kids. As parents, it is our duty to ensure that our kids develop these habits so that they grow up to be well mannered and independent individuals.

We never forget what we learn at a younger age. Kids are at an impressionable age; they are like masses of clay that can be moulded into any shape. So, use your expertise to mould them into happy and responsible individuals. To do that, start by working on your kids habits.

Here is a list of the good habits that your kids must develop.

Brushing Twice

Brushing Twice

Most kids are lazy about brushing their teeth. As the saying goes, you do not learn to value your teeth until they are gone. Drill it into your kids head that brushing their teeth is a part of their daily chores like eating and sleeping.

Waking Up On Their Own

Waking Up On Their Own

Many parents literally drag their kids out of the bed every morning. This is not a healthy habit. Your kid's body clock must be attuned to waking at a particular time. Or else, they will be late risers all their life.

Table Manners

Table Manners

Start treating your kids like an adult when he or she is at the dining table. It is very important that your child learns proper table manners. For that, you have to stop feeding the child from a very young age.

Cleaning Their Own Room

Cleaning Their Own Room

It is not your duty to clean up after your kids. They have to learn to clean up their own mess. Give them the weekly task of re-arranging their room and set an appropriate incentive for this task.

Say 'Please' And 'Thank You'

Say 'Please' And 'Thank You'

If your kids learn to say these two words, their life will become easy forever. 'Please' and 'thank you' are the two magically polite words that can get most jobs done without any hassles.

Share Their Things

Share Their Things

Sharing is joy that most kids don't get these days. Most couples opt to have a single child, and without siblings to share with, the child becomes selfish. Teach your kids to share their toys, food and books with their cousins or their friends.

Being Responsible With Money

Being Responsible With Money

Teach your children to handle money from a young age. Give them a fixed pocket money and ask them to manage their personal expenses within that amount. This will teach them to be financially responsible later in life.

Have Healthy Food Habits

Have Healthy Food Habits

All kids like to have pizzas and burgers. But your kid should not be addicted to these junk foods. Prepare healthy foods at home so that your kids develop a taste of home-cooked food.

Don't Be Couch Potatoes

Don't Be Couch Potatoes

You have to allow your kids to watch television but only for a couple of hours in a day. Do not allow them to sit in front of the TV and become couch potatoes. Push them to indulge in outdoor activities instead.

Never Litter Public Spaces

Never Litter Public Spaces

The moment you allow your kid to throw an empty wrapper on the footpath, you have given the society a bad citizen. It is important to make kids socially responsible. Tell your kids that you must never throw garbage anywhere other than a dustbin.

Be Helping Hand At Home

Be Helping Hand At Home

When your kids are big enough (7 to 8 years old) they must start taking some of the household work. Give them small chores like laying the table or drying the dishes so that they learn to do these household works.

Have Proper Bed Timings

Have Proper Bed Timings

Make sure that your kids have regular bed timings. Only if you teach them to lead a disciplined lifestyle as kids will they have regular habits for the rest of their lives.

Story first published: Friday, May 31, 2013, 11:11 [IST]
Read more about: kids habits parenting tips