Welcome to the Simply Charlotte Mason podcast. I'm Sonia Schaefer. Today I want to answer more

of your habit training questions. We have two on the docket for this episode, so let's dive right in.

If you've missed any of the previous Habit Q&A episodes, check the show notes for a link to the whole series.

Okay, here's the first question.

For children who are very timid, are there habits that could be developed in them so that they become more socially confident?

I am glad this parent gave more socially confident as a goal.

It is quite possible that the child is more of an introvert

naturally. So the goal is not for that child to become outgoing. The goal is to help that child feel

more comfortable and confident in navigating social situations.

It is important to consider each child as a person when you are setting your habit training

goals.

A habit may look different for one child than for another.

Remember, the habits that Charlotte Mason encouraged us to work on are what many of us would classify

as character traits, the habit of diligence, of cleanliness, of kindness, of respect. Those

broad categories of habits are applicable for everyone, but we can customize the specific demonstration of those

habits for each child, taking into account his developmental progress, his personality, his

background, his age, and other personal considerations.

So let's think this through for a child who is very timid.

Here are some suggestions. First, be careful not to make that tendency part of that child's identity.

Our identity is comprised of the ideas and beliefs that we hold to be true about

ourselves. And many of us gather those thoughts and beliefs from people who are close to us,

what they say about us, and what they believe about us. So try not to play the sound track of,

...