Habits we create while we are young are ones we will rely on and use as we age. Creating good habits while you are young is a key part of being successful at whatever you decide to do with your life and career. Unfortunately, many young people never master good habits and routines. They go away to college or move into their own apartment and sort of spin out of control. This is because their foundation was not laid properly.
So, what can a young student do to improve their habits and prepare them for “the real world”? We plan to answer that very question in this article post by knowing the structure and habits learned during formative years pays of for life.
Structure and Habits Learned During Formative Years
Following are the habits parents can enforce in their children through different activities:
Parents Set Boundaries
A young person needs boundaries and rules to keep their life on the right track. If the signals they are getting from their parents do not emphasize responsibility and discipline, there is a good chance they won’t learn these things on their own. The message comes from the top down.
Taking a Job as Early as Possible
A summer job for your young student is probably the best thing they can do as far as learning about work and earning a living. They will make a direct correlation between the amount of work they put in and the amount of money they get paid. It’s an on-the-job teaching tool.
Scouts
For decades, parents have enrolled their children in programs like the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. These programs teach kids about responsibility and leadership. They assign tasks for the youngsters to complete and reward them once the task has been completed to a satisfactory level.
Sports
Ask anyone who has played organized sports and they’ll tell you: sports gave them a sense of purpose and comradery that they probably didn’t have before. Their teammates and coaches will count on them to do their job and make the unit successful. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
JROTC
Many high schools offer a JROTC program where cadets will dress in uniform and learn how to pay attention to detail. There are often activities within the JROTC unit which will help them develop discipline even further. For example, there are various drill teams and orienteering programs that exist to sharpen the students ability to learn and adapt. There are also boarding military schools which offer a more immersive experience for the JROTC student.
Drill teams consist of marching or rifle handling exhibitions where cadets from one school compete with others and are judged by real military officers. There are trophies, team dinners, road trips and even state and national competitions. Nothing builds a young person’s confidence like participating and placing in a competition.
Church or Civil Group Volunteering
One way kids can learn about responsibility, helping others and being punctual is by volunteering at a local church or civic center to help those in need. There are often pantry drives, homeless help campaigns, & elderly care groups within these units that need all hands on deck. If your son or daughter volunteers once or twice per month to help with these causes, it will instill in them an extra sense of responsibility, civic duty and accomplishment.
Ask yourself, do you want a well-rounded child who knows how to interact with other humans in a courteous way? Can they grow into a leader? Are you providing them with the tools they need to develop these skills? It is important not to push a kid too hard into certain rolls or activities. But a gentle nudge from time to time may be needed for your child to get the most out of his or her life. Can your child benefit from the activities mentioned above? Chances are they could. These groups are always very receptive to new members. Without new recruits those institutions simply do not exist.
Conclusion
Your child may be trepidatious at first but you can reassure them that you and/or many people you know attended these same camps, schools, jobs or groups and that it paid off handsomely in the long run. Even though you may not have realized it would at the time, these groups ended up helping you as you grew.
The question is not whether your child is right for extra-curricular activities, but rather which ones suit them best. There is a great chance they have a hidden talent which will be brought to the forefront by participating in the activities or groups mentioned above.
It may be a good idea to put some feelers out to your child early and often. What is their favorite sport? Do they like the church or the military? Make sure they know that you are willing to help them any way possible and you would be happy to see them do these things.
