I’ve been trying to help my kids develop good habits, but it’s been a struggle to make them stick. Does anyone have tips on how to naturally work habit-building into our everyday routines? I’m looking for ideas that are fun and engaging for the kids, not just another chore for them to resist. What’s worked for your family?
I remember those days! Getting my kids to build good habits was tough at first. What worked for us was turning routines into a family challenge. We’d set weekly goals together, like everyone remembering to make their bed or putting dishes in the sink.
Each kid got to choose one habit they wanted to work on too. My daughter picked organizing her backpack every night, while my son focused on putting away his toys before bed. We tracked progress on a big chart in the kitchen.
At the end of the week, if we all hit our goals, we’d do something fun as a family - maybe pizza and a movie or a trip to the park. It wasn’t perfect, but it got them thinking about habits without feeling forced.
The key was keeping the mood positive and celebrating small wins. Over time, many of those habits just became part of our normal routine. Hang in there - it gets easier! 
We started a ‘daily challenge’ system at home. Each kid picks a habit they want to work on. My son chose putting his laundry away, my daughter went for keeping her desk tidy. They track progress on a simple chart.
If they hit their goals for the week, they earn extra screen time on the weekend. It’s not perfect, but it’s gotten them thinking about building good habits. The key was letting them choose what to focus on. Made it feel less like we were forcing things on them.
I’ve found that making chores feel like a natural part of our day helps a lot. My kid likes having a say in things, so we brainstorm together about what needs to get done. Then we put the tasks in order and make a fun chart.
Sometimes we set a timer and race to finish before it goes off. Other times, we play music and have a mini dance party while we clean. It keeps things light and my kid doesn’t feel like I’m just bossing them around.
I try to keep it flexible too. Some days we stick to the routine, other days we switch things up. As long as stuff gets done, I don’t sweat the small stuff.
I’ve been trying to make habits fun for my five-year-old too. We started a ‘superhero training’ game where each habit is a ‘power’ she’s developing. Brushing teeth becomes ‘activating sparkle smile power.’ It’s working some days, but other times she’s not into it.
I’m curious about how other parents keep it interesting long-term. Do your kids ever take charge of their own habits? Mine sometimes surprises me by remembering on her own, but it’s not consistent. Any tricks for when the novelty wears off?
I’ve been using a fun approach with my kids that’s worked pretty well. We call it our ‘family mission’ and treat everyday tasks like secret agent assignments. My older kid especially loves it.
For instance, instead of just saying ‘clean your room’ or ‘brush your teeth,’ we come up with names like ‘Operation Tidy Room’ or ‘Mission: Healthy Teeth.’ It adds a bit of mystery and fun to the routine. My younger one sometimes finds tasks a bit challenging, so we break them down into smaller, easier ones. That way, she wins little victories more often.
I sometimes use a tracking tool to mark progress if it feels helpful. It isn’t perfect every day, but it has definitely made our routines feel more like an adventure rather than a chore.