Teach Your Child Self-Control

https://www.pcog.org/articles/2659/teach-your-child-self-control

It sets a firm foundation for everything you teach your child.

Teach Self-Control

A great challenge in child rearing is to teach your child self-control, also known as self-discipline. Self-control is the firm foundation you must put in place to ensure your child’s future success. If your child does not have self-control, your child-rearing efforts simply will not bear fruit.

This is the missing dimension in knowledge lacking in most modern child-training manuals.

Most current manuals focus on protecting and developing a child’s creativity, intelligence or talents. Yet, self-control is more important than these attributes in fostering academic and career achievement.

Self-discipline is also necessary for your child to develop a sterling spiritual life, become a stable and contributing member of God’s Church, build a successful marriage, and avoid financial difficulties. Poor self-discipline can lead to alcohol or drug abuse, sexual immorality, and life-destroying criminal behavior.

Does your child have good self-control? If he or she is guilty of interrupting you constantly, being wild, not following instructions, not controlling his or her feet, hands or mouth, not sitting still and being quiet during Sabbath services, then your child lacks self-control. Psychologists would probably diagnose your child as having adhd and prescribe Ritalin. Yet the only effective solution to these impulsive behaviors is the exercise of self-control.

Modern psychologists believe children can learn self-control on their own. Don’t fall prey to that false philosophy! Self-control is learned through proper child training, parental supervision and practice. Solomon wisely taught that a child left to himself or herself will never develop self-control (Proverbs 29:15).

A child with self-discipline has an invaluable tool for meeting life’s challenges. Many relational and personal problems can be avoided or well restrained through self-control.

Here are four steps to inculcate this extremely important, indispensable skill.