10 Good Habits and Bad Habits for Students: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

A child is born with a mind which is like a blank canvas. They are ready to fill it with what they
see, hear and learn around them. From birth to age 6, a child is said to be in the sensitive period of learning, according to Montessori education. This is when their brain is open to picking up language, movements, emotional cues, social behaviours and most importantly - habits. 

This sensitive period of learning is the best time to teach children grace and courtesy or good habits and bad habits. At this age, children are not only observant and eager to learn but also eager to please. With the right guidance, children of this age can learn to see the difference between good and bad habits and can develop positive habits that will last a lifetime. 

Why Habits Matter: At a Glance

Grace and Courtesy: The Montessori Way

In Montessori classrooms like those at Teeny Beans, children are taught lessons in Grace and Courtesy. These are essentially the foundation of polite and respectful behavior. Children in these classes learn: 

• How to greet someone respectfully

• How to wait patiently

• How to interrupt politely

• How to offer help and accept help

• How to care for their environment

• How to express gratitude, apology, or empathy

Once you start integrating grace and courtesy lessons, actions and activities in the children’s daily routine, they start grasping the concept of the difference between good habits and bad habits early in life.

Good Habits And Bad Habits During Early Years

It is true that “a child’s first school is their home”. Their family is their first teacher. They are the first ones to teach them about “good” and “bad”. Then preschools reinforces the ideas, giving them structure and consistency.
The preschool years are also the time when children go through their “terrible twos and threes”- a phase where they keep on testing the limits, say no frequently and easily throw tantrums. This a natural part of their development, which shows that children are learning to express themselves, assert independence and seek control over their environment. This is why teaching them the difference between good habits and bad habits is vital.

Good Habits and Bad Habits Chart for Children

Let us go through this visual good habit and bad habit chart that would help both adults and children to communicate clearly.

10 Good Habits for Students		10 Bad Habits for Students
Saying "please" and "thank you"	1	Interrupting when others are speaking
Keeping toys and books in their place	2	Leaving a mess after playtime
Listening to instructions attentively	3	Ignoring instructions or refusing to listen
Washing hands before meals	4	Skipping hygiene routines
Sharing with friends	5	Fighting or grabbing toys
Greeting people with a smile	6	Ignoring others or being rude
Completing small chores or tasks	7	Procrastinating or refusing responsibilities
Speaking in a soft, respectful voice	8	Shouting or yelling unnecessarily
Waiting for one’s turn	9	Pushing or cutting in line
Apologizing when wrong	10	Blaming others or lying

This list makes it clear for the new ones to understand what are the good habits and what are the bad habits.

What Parents Can Do

Parents play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s behaviour and point of view. This process of shaping their thoughts mostly happens during the sensitive period of a child’s learning. Here we will share some tips that could help parents to instill the idea of good habits and bad habits in their everyday lives.

• Model what you expect: Children do what they see; they emulate any behaivior they see their parents doing ,rather than depend on hat other what they hear. If you’re polite, they’ll be too.
  
• Create routines: Daily schedules teach discipline and organization.
  
• Encourage independence: Let children brush their teeth, keep their toys, or dress themselves. These habits empower them.
  
• Read books about manners: Stories make learning relatable.
  
• Use gentle reminders: Instead of saying “don’t do that,” try “let’s try it this way.”

How Can Teachers Help?

The next important source of learning for the little children are the teachers. At Teeny Beans, teachers use strategies to nurture good habits and courteous manners in the classrooms.

• Visual reminders like a wall-mounted good habits and bad habits chart

• Circle time discussions about daily experiences

• Grace and Courtesy lessons every week

• Reward systems like sticker charts for positive behavior

• Redirection techniques instead of punishment

• Peer modeling, where children learn by watching one another

 

Fun Activities to Teach Good and Bad Manners

1. Role Play Corner: Set up scenes like dinner time, classroom, or playground. Let kids act out both good and bad behaviors, then reflect on them.

2. Good Deeds Tree: Each time a child shows a good habit (e.g., helping, sharing), they stick a leaf on the tree. Watch it bloom with kindness!

3. Manners Songs: Catchy songs with lyrics about saying “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry” are easy to remember.

4. Sorting Game: Use flashcards of different behaviors. Ask kids to place them under “good” or “bad” habit labels.

5. Behavior Journals: Older preschoolers can draw or color something good they did every day.

Handling the “Terrible Twos and Threes”

The "terrible twos and threes" can be frustrating for parents and teachers, but they are also a chance to guide young children through emotional learning.

Common Behaviors	How to Handle Them
Saying “No” to everything	Give two acceptable choices instead of open-ended options
Tantrums	Stay calm, validate feelings, and offer a quiet space
Hitting or biting	Explain consequences and reinforce empathy
Not following routines	Use visual schedules and give warnings before transitions

This stage is not about “bad behavior.” It is about understanding the little child who is yet to learn how to communicate his worries and needs. When they don't have enough words to express themselves, they just get angry and throw a tantrum.

Why habits matter?

Teaching the little ones good and bad manners is not a one-day matter. It is a journey that begins at home when the baby is born and continues in school. When parents and teachers work together, children learn faster, the difference between good habits and bad habit. – not through punishment but through understanding.

At Teeny Beans, they believe that children learn not just to gain academic expertise. But to become a wholesome human being who are courteous, compassionate and confident. Children who know how to be respectful to men and the environment.