Ways to Teach Kids Self-Discipline Skills

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The ultimate goal of discipline should be for your child to learn self-discipline.
When kids have self-discipline, they're able to delay gratification, resist unhealthy temptations, and work hard even when they don't feel like doing it.
Provide Structure
Self-discipline helps kids delay gratification. Create a similar schedule every day. Kids need a morning routine that includes when to eat breakfast, comb their hair, brush their teeth, and get dressed.
Create an after-school routine that teaches your child how to divide his time between homework, and fun activities. It's also important to have a bedtime routine that teaches the importance of settling down and getting plenty of rest.
Keep your child's routines simple. And with practice, he should be learning to implement each step of his routine on his own.
Explain the Reason Behind Your Rules
When it comes to helping kids learn how to make healthy choices, an authoritative approach helps kids understand reasons for the rules.
This helps them to understand the underlying reasons for your rules. Instead of saying, “My mom said I have to do this,” a child will understand the potential consequences of his choices.
Implement Appropriate Consequences
Sometimes, natural consequences can teach some of life's greatest lessons.
A child who constantly forgets his homework at home won’t learn to pack his belongings if his mother delivers his homework to the school each time he forgets. Instead, he may need to face the consequence from his teacher before he learns. At other times, kids need logical consequences.
Explain what the negative consequences will be if he makes a poor choice. Then, give him the choice.
Keep in mind that he needs to learn how to make healthy decisions on his own, by examining the potential consequences of his behavior.
Shape Behavior One Step at a Time
Self-discipline is a process that takes years to hone and refine. Use age-appropriate discipline strategies to shape behavior one step at a time.
Use a picture chart on the wall that depicts someone combing her hair, brushing her teeth, and getting dressed. You can even take pictures of your child doing these activities and create your own chart.
When necessary, provide reminders to your child to look at the chart until he is able to look at the chart and do each task on his own. Eventually, he’ll need less reminders and won’t require the chart as his self-discipline improves.
Any time your child is learning a new skill or gaining more independence, help him do so one small step at a time.
Praise Good Behavior
Provide positive attention and praise whenever your child demonstrates self-discipline. If your child usually hits when he's angry, but you discover him using his words, say, “Great job working it out with your brother with your words!”
Sometimes good behavior goes unnoticed, and giving kids praise for making good choices increases the likelihood that they’ll repeat that behavior.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Teach problem-solving skills and work together to problem-solve specific issues related to self-discipline. Sometimes, asking kids what they think would be helpful can be an eye opening experience that can lead to creative solutions.
Model Self-Discipline
Make it a priority to model self-discipline. Pay attention to areas where you might struggle with discipline.
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The ultimate goal of discipline should be for your child to learn self-discipline.
When kids have self-discipline, they're able to delay gratification, resist unhealthy temptations, and work hard even when they don't feel like doing it.
Provide Structure
Self-discipline helps kids delay gratification. Create a similar schedule every day. Kids need a morning routine that includes when to eat breakfast, comb their hair, brush their teeth, and get dressed.
Create an after-school routine that teaches your child how to divide his time between homework, and fun activities. It's also important to have a bedtime routine that teaches the importance of settling down and getting plenty of rest.
Keep your child's routines simple. And with practice, he should be learning to implement each step of his routine on his own.
Explain the Reason Behind Your Rules
When it comes to helping kids learn how to make healthy choices, an authoritative approach helps kids understand reasons for the rules.
This helps them to understand the underlying reasons for your rules. Instead of saying, “My mom said I have to do this,” a child will understand the potential consequences of his choices.
Implement Appropriate Consequences
Sometimes, natural consequences can teach some of life's greatest lessons.
A child who constantly forgets his homework at home won’t learn to pack his belongings if his mother delivers his homework to the school each time he forgets. Instead, he may need to face the consequence from his teacher before he learns. At other times, kids need logical consequences.
Explain what the negative consequences will be if he makes a poor choice. Then, give him the choice.
Keep in mind that he needs to learn how to make healthy decisions on his own, by examining the potential consequences of his behavior.
Shape Behavior One Step at a Time
Self-discipline is a process that takes years to hone and refine. Use age-appropriate discipline strategies to shape behavior one step at a time.
Use a picture chart on the wall that depicts someone combing her hair, brushing her teeth, and getting dressed. You can even take pictures of your child doing these activities and create your own chart.
When necessary, provide reminders to your child to look at the chart until he is able to look at the chart and do each task on his own. Eventually, he’ll need less reminders and won’t require the chart as his self-discipline improves.
Any time your child is learning a new skill or gaining more independence, help him do so one small step at a time.
Praise Good Behavior
Provide positive attention and praise whenever your child demonstrates self-discipline. If your child usually hits when he's angry, but you discover him using his words, say, “Great job working it out with your brother with your words!”
Sometimes good behavior goes unnoticed, and giving kids praise for making good choices increases the likelihood that they’ll repeat that behavior.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Teach problem-solving skills and work together to problem-solve specific issues related to self-discipline. Sometimes, asking kids what they think would be helpful can be an eye opening experience that can lead to creative solutions.
Model Self-Discipline
Make it a priority to model self-discipline. Pay attention to areas where you might struggle with discipline.[:id]

The ultimate goal of discipline should be for your child to learn self-discipline.
When kids have self-discipline, they're able to delay gratification, resist unhealthy temptations, and work hard even when they don't feel like doing it.
Provide Structure
Self-discipline helps kids delay gratification. Create a similar schedule every day. Kids need a morning routine that includes when to eat breakfast, comb their hair, brush their teeth, and get dressed.
Create an after-school routine that teaches your child how to divide his time between homework, and fun activities. It's also important to have a bedtime routine that teaches the importance of settling down and getting plenty of rest.
Keep your child's routines simple. And with practice, he should be learning to implement each step of his routine on his own.
Explain the Reason Behind Your Rules
When it comes to helping kids learn how to make healthy choices, an authoritative approach helps kids understand reasons for the rules.
This helps them to understand the underlying reasons for your rules. Instead of saying, “My mom said I have to do this,” a child will understand the potential consequences of his choices.
Implement Appropriate Consequences
Sometimes, natural consequences can teach some of life's greatest lessons.
A child who constantly forgets his homework at home won’t learn to pack his belongings if his mother delivers his homework to the school each time he forgets. Instead, he may need to face the consequence from his teacher before he learns. At other times, kids need logical consequences.
Explain what the negative consequences will be if he makes a poor choice. Then, give him the choice.
Keep in mind that he needs to learn how to make healthy decisions on his own, by examining the potential consequences of his behavior.
Shape Behavior One Step at a Time
Self-discipline is a process that takes years to hone and refine. Use age-appropriate discipline strategies to shape behavior one step at a time.
Use a picture chart on the wall that depicts someone combing her hair, brushing her teeth, and getting dressed. You can even take pictures of your child doing these activities and create your own chart.
When necessary, provide reminders to your child to look at the chart until he is able to look at the chart and do each task on his own. Eventually, he’ll need less reminders and won’t require the chart as his self-discipline improves.
Any time your child is learning a new skill or gaining more independence, help him do so one small step at a time.
Praise Good Behavior
Provide positive attention and praise whenever your child demonstrates self-discipline. If your child usually hits when he's angry, but you discover him using his words, say, “Great job working it out with your brother with your words!”
Sometimes good behavior goes unnoticed, and giving kids praise for making good choices increases the likelihood that they’ll repeat that behavior.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Teach problem-solving skills and work together to problem-solve specific issues related to self-discipline. Sometimes, asking kids what they think would be helpful can be an eye opening experience that can lead to creative solutions.
Model Self-Discipline
Make it a priority to model self-discipline. Pay attention to areas where you might struggle with discipline.[:]