When we teach kids about unhealthy or harmful habits, it often comes out in the form of a lecture: “Don’t do drugs,” “Don’t smoke,” “Don’t have unprotected sex.” But it’s just as important to teach our kids what they can do when faced with unhealthy choices as it is to tell them what they can’t.
Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, suggests parents not only focus on the dangers of unhealthy habits but helping children to understand habits themselves. “Teaching kids about why habits are established, how habits are established, and what habits to establish can sometimes get missed when we focus on only the harmful habits,” says Gandhi. “Establish healthy rituals and routines early, talk about what to do to be set up for success, and…