HELP FOR YOUR FAMILY/PARENTING

Teaching Children Self-Control

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today's culture undermines self-control.  "In our permissive culture, adults and children constantly hear messages that we should do whatever we want," writes Dr. David Walsh.  "From being well-meaning self-help gurus to dollar-grabbing hucksters, we constantly hear that we should give in to our urges." 

Early teaching of self-control is vital.  In a long-term study, researchers gave a group of four-year-old children one marshmallow each and told them that they  could either eat the one marshmallow right away or wait a brief period and receive another marshmallow as a reward for their patience. Later in life, as high school graduates, the children who showed self-control at four were doing better than their counterparts emotionally, socially, and academically. 

The cost of not teaching self-control can be heavy.  Researchers believe that the circuitry of a child's brain can be altered by his experiences.  Dr. Dan Kindlon explains what that means: "If we overindulge our children, if we don't make them learn  to wait their turn, delay gratification, and resist temptation, the neutral changes that we associate with strong character may not take place." 

Next time:  HELP FOR THE FAMILY/PARENTING - Teaching Children Self-Control -WHAT YOU CAN DO

From The AWAKE! magazine,  2015