Teaching Self-Control and Routine: Keys to Success for Children

News of sports triumphs and victories resound through the media every day. We remember great athletes like Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and the current Premier League sensation, Erling Haaland. These successful athletes have something in common: they all adhere to strict training plans and make disciplined choices regarding their diet. Their achievements are not a result of doing nothing, but rather of intense preparation off the stage and away from the camera. This requires self-control and the ability to wake up each day and pursue their goals.

To be successful and accomplished, it is important to teach your child that pursuing goals requires self-control. Making the decision to get out of bed in the morning to go to school or training instead of indulging in the comfort of a warm bed requires discipline. Sitting down to study instead of playing games or binge-watching videos also requires self-control. Children need to understand that they should do things not solely based on how they feel, but because it is the right thing to do at that particular time or situation.

Developing these skills is as simple as helping your child establish a consistent routine and sticking to it. For example, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is a step in the right direction. It may require commitment and consistency from us as parents or guardians to maintain the routine. Remember, it takes time for routines to become habits. Just like a builder laying one brick at a time to construct a house, we should take small steps towards our goals.