The 7 Habits: Habit Number 3

This week’s 7 Habits focus is Habit 3: Put First Things First. Page 8 of The Leader in Me Parent’s Guide states: “‘Put First Things First,’ which means to decide what is most important and to take care of that first. Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming, especially for children. Learning to think of which things are the most important and taking care of them first allows children (and adults) to be less stressed.

If your child uses a planner at school, then he or she has a great organizational tool, too. Put First Things First in writing. By writing down his or her responsibilities and planning ahead, last-minute trips to the store, missed events, or missed homework are avoided. If your child does not use a planner, having a weekly log would also be helpful. This could simply be a piece of paper that is used each week. Modeling this behavior is one of the best ways to teach.”