Forming Habits: Daily Checklist for Children

I have posted before in reference to Habit Formation …

I think Habit formation should be a very important part of child training. I truly believe that God created us to be creatures of habit because having a good habit just makes things so much easier for us. Once something is a habit, you don’t even have to think about it, you just do “it”. Isn’t that a gift because if we had to think about every single action we took, we would be beyond worn out. The only thing that hurts us as creatures of habit is when WE allow ourselves to form bad habits.

Those are still my thoughts. I truly believe that the way GOD created us with the capability to form habits is a gift. When we do blow it and create a bad habit, that doesn’t change the fact that the ability to create a habit is a really good thing for us.

More past Habit articles you may find encouraging

Habit Training Made Easy

Habit of Attention

Habit Formation: The Habit of Crying out to the Lord

Habit Formation: What about our own

Daily Checklist: A simple HABIT that makes our days just a wee bit easier!

O.k., so back to why I am writing about the gift of Habit formation today. I wanted to share something I started with my boys and I am happy to say it has become a habit for us. This is the habit of giving the boys a check off list for the  day.

This is a simply check list I typed up, I was able to fit three of these on one page. I print out, then cut out enough for a good stack to pull from each day. I typed on the list the main things we were already doing and things we want to accomplish on a regular basis. All I have to do is add a few individual notes, or even sometimes mark through something I do not need them to do on a given day. It only takes a few minutes each morning to fill out. The boys really like having something so they can “see” what they need to do that and that they are able to physically check off when they have accomplished an activity.

It is also easier for me to remember all those things I do hope to accomplish with the boys:

• habit training
• various school activities
• piano practice
• daily chores, etc.

I have to say it also makes it easier when they come to me and want to play video games or watch t.v., and I can simply say “o.k., let’s look at your check-off list”. They know that the majority of the time now if they haven’t accomplished all school, morning and afternoon duties, had some outside time, exercised, and had their GOD & Me Time then they can’t have video game or TV time.

This very simple and easy habit has really made are days a wee bit easier!!

~written by Angie