The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids
When it comes to parenting, I feel like I’m always at war with at least one of the little peeps in my household. Even basic stuff like brushing teeth, bedtime, and meals are cause for battle.
In an age of permissive parenting, are we focused more on our children’s feelings than what’s good for them? Sometimes I wonder.
I like to see my kids happy as much as the next mom, but I’m quite fine allowing them to “suffer” when it comes to following the rules and basic principals our family holds dear. While I wish my kids loved everything I deem necessary, they don’t. They won’t - and that has to be OK.
See, I’ve got a bigger vision than a pouty kid at bedtime. I’m focused on what that well-rested kid will be capable of tomorrow for having had a good night’s sleep.
When I really stopped to consider the battles worth fighting in my house, I came up with 7 that I like to call “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids”; check ‘em out!
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Chores
"You live here too," was the phrase that made my mom famous. Turns out, she was right. It takes a lot of effort to maintain a household and everyone needs to do their part. Chores offer important lessons in accountability, life skills, and teamwork.
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Hobbies
No matter what your child's passion, encourage them to keep at it! Your child may think she's just having fun but she's learning valuable lessons in determination, patience, and hard work.
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Physical activity
The Centers for Disease Control recommend children get at least 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. For tips on choosing physical activities for your children by ages and stages, check out Healthy Children.org's practical suggestions here.
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Family dinners
If only every family had the opportunity to gather around the nightly dinner table. Strive for a good old-fashioned family meal at least once a week to come together and reconnect. Our children will grow to prioritize family in the way they've been shown.
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Reading
The Children's Reading Foundation recommends kids spend at least 20 minutes a day reading. If you have a reluctant reader, check out 13 Fun and Positive Ways to Help Your Struggling Reader.
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A balanced diet
It's not always easy to get kids to eat a balanced diet but we can lead by example. HealthyChildren.org offers a handy guide to The Five Food Groups
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Sleeping
Sleep is a critical component of maintaining a child's health and mental focus. According to WebMD, kids ages 3-6 require 10-12 hours of sleep per day, while kids ages 7-12 require 10-11 hours of sleep per day.
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What are else do “highly effective kids” need?
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See & I thought I was the only Mom left in the US who makes the kids do chores; eat a real, homecooked meal, at the dinner table; and go to bed at bedtime… I will have to let the kids know that they actaully aren’t “the only ones”.
Great list. All of these things are so important. I always assign 20 minutes of reading to my students. It doesn’t matter what they read- newspaper, books, magazines, etc. They just need to be reading.