Starting Habit Training with Older Children

[@cccynova]

Thank you for this! My children are now (almost) 6 to 16, and I have tried to train my children in good habits from infanthood, but have not been very successful. My husband and I were never properly trained by our parents, and I'm certain their parents never trained them properly either. It is up to us to break the cycles of bad habits and create new ones!

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

I am glad that you have found this video encouraging, it is never too late and it is an ongoing process for us all!

[@stephanien1764]

You described my negative moody 12 year old son! Thank you for the new ideas to try. God's timing is always good.

[@lauratempestini5719]

Thank you for addressing the issue of older near adult children. But VERY NEGLECTED and NEEDED is praying and asking. THE FATHER to-laborers across our loved ones es paths!

[@daniellebeck8322]

Thanks so much. I love the candid advice you give about habit training. You almost always provide a solution that I would have never thought of. You really look at things from a different point of view and it's so enlightening. I appreciate all the help I can get.

[@HomeSweetHomeschoolLife]

This was just what I needed to hear this morning!

[@jillboccuzzi6228]

Me too!

[@AW-lp4vm]

Yes!!

[@Dreblueskies]

Sonya your advice is timely and just what I needed!! 💛

[@JenniferGarcia-qr3ur]

I just received my "Laying Down the Rails' set few days ago, and I was wondering on how to apply these concepts in my pre-teen, single-child. Thanks!

[@AW-lp4vm]

I second this! For a nine y.o. please & thank you!

[@nicolepettit5120]

As a naturally negative thinker, I say this is great advice!

[@jessicabrown6943]

What a GREAT idea of taking a bad habit and turning it into a good habit. Love the idea about the water bottles!! I would be the same way if they were out of order! ☺️

[@lindseyberrum]

Love this! I am slowly buying all your books. So thankful for good books and wise advice.

[@BetcySimon]

God's timing is perfect ❤

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

Amen. Thank you for joining us.

[@emacwakeup]

This is fabulous

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

Thank you for sharing your kind words and feedback!

[@ninareis8131]

This is great!! I purchased Laying Down the Rails for Yourself. Do you have any tips for mom on how to cultivate the habit of an even temper? I often tell myself "Be patient, be patient." and that's just not enough! What are some cues I can use to remind myself of the good habit I want to cultivate?

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

Hi Nina! Prayer, and lots of it, can go a long way. That said, we have to make an effort and you're right. It can be hard. One tool I've (SCM team member) utilized is to pause and count to 10. It was a tool I utilized with my children when they were frustrated and I realized that while I'm asking them to count silently to 10, counting to 10 and taking a deep breath could help me immensely as well.

[@diversekakes]

Thank you!

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

You're very welcome!

[@chingkenneth1017]

Guide for parents

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

Thanks for joining us!

[@brianandalyssagilliam1013]

What’s your suggestions for helping a child get up on time? Because we homeschool and usually don’t have anywhere to be in the morning there’s no ‘natural consequence’ of us being late anywhere. I have 3 children and both my girls (17, 7) are very good about getting up and moving when they need to but my son (9) does not. I don’t want to wake him up continually and coddle his bad habit, I want him to be self motivated to get up but not sure how to do it.

[@SimplyCharlotteMason]

This is a great question! People in general are different in their need for sleep in terms of amount needed and in rise/sleep times! It may be helpful to sit down with your child and discuss this change in routine with them. Decide on what you would like for a "start time" for your day and work with your child to support that (e.g. make sure they are getting to bed early enough, there isn't anything keeping them up too late, you use a consistent method to wake them up, etc.). Expect that as with any new habit it will take some time! This post has some great tips and encouragement for how to set up our mornings for success: simplycharlottemason.com/blog/5-tips-for-a-smooth-morning/