Turn Negative Habits Positive

Just read Michelle's post on Positive Reinforcement and remembered that my brother attended a brain development talk a few months ago. That speaker (One of the top speakers in Malaysia) actually said that there is a way to turn negative habits into positive habits without having to yell or scold or punish your children. Interesting, isn't it?

Let me share with you. According to the speaker, when your children go to sleep, it's time for you to teach, to input into their brain the positive habits that you wish your children could adopt. So, all you need to do is to find a moment when your children are in the state of between asleep and awake (it means when they have not gone into deep sleep). Usually, it is the first 5 minutes of their sleep. Then, you would whisper into their ears all the things that you want them to do. REMEMBER: you must use positive words, that means no "Don'ts".

The theory is like that: When your child is not in a deep sleep, he can hear and absorb whatever you tell him and it is like programming something into his sub-conscience.

I am trying this method out, not very consistently but I do see a little improvement. Have to try harder, really.

Let me give you an example of what I say to my kids:

I would whisper into my elder son's ear like this to encourage him to be tougher and not cry at the slightest thing, more responsible and not too demanding as well as to sleep earlier:

"Karl is a good and obedient boy. Daddy and Mummy love Karl so much. Karl likes to share with "didi" (brother) and "meimei" (sister). Karl is tough and flexible. Karl will request in a good manner and if people say no, Karl will say it's ok and still be happy. That's why everybody love Karl so much. Karl is considerate and responsible. Karl always remembers to bring back the things that he brings to school. Karl will sleep early and wake up early everyday. Good night Karl, mummy love you very much."