From Raising Happiness, a great book – summary of some habit formation tips:

– Remove the stimulus (if it’s causing them to be overwhelmed, providing an audience, rewarding inappropriate behavior, etc.) Set them up for success. Example: if they are watching too much TV, unplug it/hide it. If they are not putting dirty clothes in laundry, move the hamper to better location? Brainstorm how to make it easier to reach the goals.

– Make it public in a good way, share goals to increase positive peer & family support of the new habit. Tell grandparents, co-teachers, etc: we’re working on not interrupting and so and so is doing a fantastic job waiting patiently for a turn to speak!

– Pick one goal to work on at a time and make it specific, and stick to it for 3 weeks.

– Anticipate relapses but keep moving forward. Habit formation takes time.

Here’s the chapter titles, and I’ve really enjoyed this book – worth the read. Each chapter has tons of ideas for actually putting these things into practice, how to make them habit and various studies & stories about how this influences kids’ choices.

1. Put on your own oxygen mask first.
2. Build a village.
3. Expect effort & enjoyment – not perfection.
4. Choose gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism.
5. Raise their emotional intelligence.
6. Form happiness habits.
7. Teach self discipline.
8. Enjoy the present.
9. Rig their environment for happiness.
10. Eat dinner together.