“Is there a structured way to build positive habits in my child? The answer is, yes.”
Many people know Jack Ma as a successful but humble entrepreneur, a visionary who discovered opportunities before others did, and an intelligent businessman with an extremely sharp mind.
His success, however, cannot be attributed to talent alone.
Did you know that he faced over thirty rejections from various companies before becoming one of the richest men in the world? Jack Ma persisted in the face of adversity and rejection.
His adoption of positive thinking habits was what made the difference.
“What determines success is not knowledge or talent alone.”
In fact, a common thread runs through successful people, from top athletes like Jordan Spieth to famous entrepreneurs like Jack Ma and Mark Zuckerberg, helping them attain desirable results in spite of setbacks and uncertainties.
They all start honing their craft and developing positive thinking habits, early in life.
A report by Cambridge University on habit formation shows that young children often develop key habits before the age of seven.
As such, the big question for many parents is: “Is there a structured or systematic way to build positive habits in my child?”
The answer is “yes”. Through extensive research, renowned experts and researchers from the USA have identified sixteen powerful traits.
“Is there a structured way to build positive habits in my child? The answer is, yes.”
These skills, named the ‘Habits of Mind™’, provide children with a structured framework for autonomous learning, and are commonly found in successful people.
According to Dr. Henry Toi, Director of the Art Costa Centre for Thinking, “The Habits of Mind can be likened to the operating system of successful and intelligent people. They are a universal set of skills, and can be taught to just about anyone, including preschoolers.”
By applying these Habits, children will grow into self-directed learners, focused on each task whilst comfortably managing external distractions and reacting intelligently in the face of uncertainties.
“An operating system of successful and intelligent people, adopted by MOE’s Gifted Education Branch.”
So wide is the appeal of these Habits, that even MOE’s Gifted Education Branch has adopted them to promote intelligent thinking in the crème-de-la-crème of Singaporean students.
So, how can parents have their preschoolers benefit from the ‘Habits of Mind’?
In Singapore, parents can turn to Mulberry Learning Centre. It is the first and only preschool chain in the world to be certified by The Institute for Habits of Mind in the USA. It was also voted “Best in Promoting Positive Learning” in the “Best of the Best Preschool Awards 2015” organized by Parents World Magazine.
