HABITS

HOW TO CREATE HABITS

For children, it's really important to have routines and habits to have their life organised.

As educators, our labor is to help them to learn and internalize them.

For that reason we want to tell you some tips about how to work them:

• The sooner you start, the best; this way, he won't have internalized bad habits.
• We have to follow and schedule to create routines, this way children will internalize this habits 
• The best way of "teaching" is through the imitation, which consist in being a model for them.
• Create a calm environment.
• Be pacient and don't get mad if he doesn't success at first time.
• If he does it right, we've to praise him and if he fails, encourage him not to give up.

Now, we're going to tell you how to teach some basic habits

EAT ALONE.

*Advices:

• The materials should be adapted; when they're younger, they sit in a high chair and drink in baby's bottles and when they're older in a child chair and drink with glasses use plastic cutlery and don't give them knifes...
• Don't leave them alone.
• Start giving them food that they can eat easily and gradually increase the difficulty.
• Let them experiment through their senses, get dirty.
• Be pacient.
• Don't hurry.
• Follow and schedule.
• Take into account the doctor's advice.

*How to create this habit:

• First of all, we'll explain him the different steps that he'll follow. For example: in first place, we put the dish, then the glass, and finally the cutlery.
• We'll act as models to teach him how to use the cutlery, at first it'll be difficult for him but with the practice he'll improve.
• If he doesn't want to it, we don't have to force him.
• Every child has his own  rhythm, be patient.

DRESS UP:

*Advices:

• Easy to wear; without buttons, zips, wide and elastic clothes.
• Be patient.
• Don't teach this habit in a boring way, instead you can teach it like a game.
• Start from the easiest ones to put on and progresive, the most difficult ones.
• Use shoes with velcro instead of shoelaces.
• Use socks without heel.
• Use sweaters with a narrow neck.
• Establish moments in the day in which the kid has to put on and put off the clothes (when he leaves, when he arrives...)
• Don't rush.

*How to create this habit:

We're going to focus in the most difficult ones for kids:

• How to put on a coat:
• First of all, we put the coat on the floor, with the hood nearest and the coat face up.
• We introduce the arms into the sleeves.
• We raise the coat upon our head.
• Finally, we accomodate it.

• How to put on a trousers:
• We pick the trousers with the label nearest to him.
• We stretch the elastic resistance band.
• We introduce each leg for each leg hole.
• We accomodate the trousers.

                                                                                                                                                               

• How to put on a t-shirt:
• We introduce the head into the hole. The label must be in the back.
• We introduce each arm into the sleeves.
• We accomodate the t-shirt.

BRUSH THE TEETH:

*Advices:

• Use an adapted tooth-brush and a children toothpaste.
• Use a stool so the kid can reach the sink.
• Be his model.
• Teach him slowly and clearly.
• You can use a song to motivate him.
• Explain him why is it important.

*How to teach this habit:

• First of all, place yourself in front of the kid.
• Then, brush your teeth so the kid can copy the movements.
• Ask him to repeat the actions.
• If he has done it in a good way, praise him, if he doesn't, encourage him to try again.

HANDS WASHING:

*Advices:

• Use a stool so the kid can reach the sink.
• Don't get mad at him if he gets wet.
• Don't leave him alone.
• Explain him the importance of washing his hands.

*How to teach this habit:

• Place yourself behind him.
• Open the tap.
• With your hands help him to clean his hands.
• After that, dry off your hands.
• Make the child repeat but this time alone.

BYE NAPPIES:

*Advices:

• Use an adapted toile
• Follow and schedule.
• Every child has his own  rhythm, don't force him if he's not ready.
• Don't get angry if at first he doesn't tell you that he needs to go to the bathroom.
• Be patient.
• Explain him the importance of making pee and poo
• You can use a song to motivate him.
• Don't teach this habit in a boring way, instead you can teach it like a game.

*How to teach this habit:

• Show him were is located the potty.
• We'll explain him the different steps that he'll follow. For example: First of all the child has to take down the trourses and the underwear then she has to sit down on the potty and finally wait until she wants to make pee.
• We'll act as models to teach him how to use the potty.
• If she doesn't want to do it we don't have to force him .

Hope you find this tips useful and practical.