Encouraging children to develop self-discipline is one of the important aspects of parenting. This would help them achieve goals as self-control is a key to success in life. Read on to learn about how to develop self-discipline in kids.Self-discipline, which is also known as self-control, will-power and conscientiousness, is about being able to regulate one’s self. It is obvious that small kids lack the self-control that older people possess.
However, self-discipline develops with age, but it starts from the age of 3. In fact, experts believe that big changes take place between the age of 3 and 7. This is where parents can help their children to a great extent and help them establish the foundation of achieving success in life.
Why Focus on Developing Self-Discipline?
Kids having lower level of self-discipline have poor self-control and planning abilities and often turn out more
aggressive as well as have
behavioural problems. These children have the possibilities of experiencing anxiety and depression as well.
Long term disadvantages include obesity in children who are more impulsive, their probability to smoke increases a lot and they are more likely to take refuge in alcohol and drugs.
Not only this, children with lower level of self-discipline are more likely to commit crimes and less likely to become successful and wealthy. It is also believed that they suffer shorter life span also.
10 Techniques for Developing Self-Discipline in Kids
Sceptics might not agree with the idea of developing self-discipline in kids because they believe that it simply runs in the genes and you can have it if that runs in your family. But, experts are of the opinion that there are many ways in which you can modify it in your kids. In fact, parents as well as teachers have insightful effect on the development of self-discipline in kids.
1. Create a Positive Environment
Create an environment where self-control is rewarded. Make sure you stick to your promise and reward your kid on time. Always remember that your child’s willingness to wait depends on how she weighs risks and benefits. So, when you make a future promise, you should always fulfil that so that your child knows that when she is being promised, she is going to have the benefit. Even a two-year-old can resist eating cookies if she is sure that she is going to have more and high rewards.
2. Develop and Maintain Level of Trust
Trust is the foundation of self-control. When an infant cries and her mother holds her and feeds her, she knows that every time she is hungry, her mother is there to feed her. This works with other aspects also and develops trust. Every time their
anxiety gets soothed out they start feeling safe and accepted.
3. Be a Role Model
Children learn emotional directive from parent’s modelling. When parents are seen incapable of handling their emotions and anger, the child gets the message that life is full of emergencies. This hampers the child in learning to soothe her own emotions. So, if you want to help your child develop self-discipline, you need to
stay calm and compassionate in front of your kids in every situation.
4. Demonstrate and Teach How to Manage Anger
Anger is one of the commonest of emotions and when one is angry, losing self-control is pretty obvious. If you help your child learn
anger management skills, she would be able to have better self-control in future.
5. Involve Your Kid Into Some Activity
Involving your child in some sports, music or dance lessons, will help your child develop self-discipline. When your child will be involved in something that needs stretching, she will learn self-discipline more readily.
6. Give Children Opportunities to Make Choices
Parents want their children to develop self-discipline so that they stay protected from the dangerous consequences of life. So, help your children practice this by making choices in situations which may have negative but not severe consequences.
7. Teach your Children to Come When Called
Many children try to reply from the place where they are instead of coming near to the person who called them. Teach your children to leave whatever they are doing when they are called and come to you. This will help them understand that sometimes we need to leave doing things what we like for something that is of importance at that time.
8. Help Your Kids to Respond Positively to Correction
Most often children do not like to be corrected and either get aggressive or show bad behaviour. Teach your child to respond to corrections with a good attitude and right behaviour. This will help your child learn to control impulses.
9. Praise Your Children
A large number of social activities require self-control and whenever you see one, you should praise your child so that she comes to know what is appreciated. You can also point out the areas that need to be worked on.
10. Establish Rules and Share Responsibilities with Your Children
Morning routines, chores and family responsibilities are the best opportunities for kids to develop self-discipline. Responsibility is the work which is done even when no one is watching and the reward to fulfilling responsibilities are privileges. Simple benefits in life can help your child complete things before deadline and take the advantage in turn.
In addition to the above tips, one of the most effective one is to teach your kids about steps for self-discipline at bed time. This is the time when you spend some quality time with your kids and they are ready to listen to you. Set a bedtime and develop a routine just like the one you have set for the morning. This may require work and effort at parents’ ends initially, but it is going to pay off tremendous dividends later.
Some parents try to protect their children from consequences and give them an easier life. However, this only leads to more freedom and less self-control. Help your children develop self-discipline and stay happy in life.
At what age should kids learn self-discipline? Why is it important to teach self-discipline to kids? Which strategies can prove effective to teach self-discipline to kids? Discuss here. 
