A Gentle Guide for Kids and Parents
Everyone has habits. Some habits
help us grow. Some habits need a little help changing. Having a bad habit does
not mean a child is bad. It simply means a habit has learned to stick around
longer than it should.
The good news is this. Habits can
change.
Step
One: Notice the Habit
The first step is noticing the
habit. This means paying attention, not getting upset.
A bad habit might be yelling when
frustrated, leaving toys everywhere, interrupting others, biting nails, or
giving up too quickly. When a child notices the habit, they are already on the
path to change.
Instead of saying, “I am bad,” help
children say, “This habit is not helping me.”
Step
Two: Find the Trigger
Most habits start for a reason.
Something triggers them.
A trigger might be feeling tired,
hungry, bored, excited, or frustrated. Helping children name their feelings
gives them power over the habit.
Ask gentle questions like, “What
were you feeling right before that happened?”
Step
Three: Choose a Better Replacement
Bad habits are not removed. They are
replaced.
If a child yells when angry, they
can practice taking a deep breath instead.
If a child leaves toys out, they can practice putting away just five things.
If a child interrupts, they can practice raising a hand or counting to three.
Replacing a habit works better than
trying to stop one completely.
Step
Four: Make It Easy to Succeed
Change happens faster when the
environment helps.
Put reminders where children can see
them.
Reduce distractions when possible.
Practice the new habit when the child is calm, not upset.
Small steps build confidence.
Step
Five: Celebrate Effort, Not Perfection
Children do not need to be perfect
to grow. They need encouragement.
Missing one day does not mean
failure. Trying again the next day is success.
Praise effort. Praise honesty.
Praise improvement.
A
Message for Children
You are not your bad habit.
You are learning.
You are growing.
Every time you try again, you are getting stronger.
A
Message for Parents
Children change best when they feel
safe, supported, and believed in. Gentle guidance builds lasting habits. Shame
builds fear. Encouragement builds confidence.
Bad habits fade when good habits
take their place.
New Year Habit Builder Worksheet
Small Actions. Repeated Daily. Big Change.
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Step 1: Identify the Habit You Want to Build
One habit I want to develop this year is:
Why this habit matters to my life, health, purpose, or future:
Step 2: Make the Habit Small and Repeatable
The daily version of this habit will be small enough to do even on my worst day.
My daily habit action:
Time of day I will do it:
Where I will do it:
Step 3: Attach It to an Existing Routine
I will do this habit immediately after I have already done the following:
This existing routine happens every day:
☐ Yes
☐ No. If not, choose a different anchor
Step 4: Anticipate Resistance
The most likely excuse or obstacle I will face:
What I will do instead of quitting when this happens:
Step 5: Create a Simple Reward
After completing my habit, I will acknowledge it by:
This reinforces the habit and tells my brain it matters.
Step 6: Track Consistency, Not Perfection
I commit to never missing two days in a row.
☐ I understand that missing once is human
☐ I understand that missing twice creates a new habit
Tracking method I will use:
☐ Calendar
☐ Notebook
☐ App
☐ Other: ___________________________
Breaking a Habit That No Longer Serves Me
The habit I want to stop or replace:
What usually triggers it:
What I will replace it with instead:
What changes can I make to my environment to make the bad habit harder?
Identity Statement
Complete this sentence and read it daily.
“I am the kind of person who ____________________________________________.”
One Year From Now
If I stay consistent with this habit, my life one year from today will look like this:
Final Commitment
I am not chasing motivation.
I am building a pattern.
I will show up daily, even when it feels small.
Signature: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________
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