If Japanese culture has something, governments and families emphasize early childhood education. Children learn to develop their abilities and be disciplined from a very young age. They have efficient techniques, such as the Kaizen method, which helps the little ones learn to be organized and set goals.
The reality is that this technique was not explicitly intended for raising children, but it serves a lot of that purpose. Kaizen is a term made up of two Japanese kanji: Kai, which means change, and Zen, which means good or to improve, as indicated in the text How the Japanese Interpret Kaizen by Wayne Macpherson, a professor at Massey University in New Zealand.
It is a philosophy that drives creativity and better results through small, consistent actions that deliver long-term benefits. In many companies, this method has been adopted to eliminate procrastination.
The origin of this approach dates back to World War II. Japan was in serious economic problems, so a businessman named Taiichi Ohno created a methodology to improve production systems based on two values that govern his culture: commitment and discipline.
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The method consists of the following steps:
This technique is so effective that it is also applied in the upbringing of children with simple adaptations.
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Being a method that promotes the creation of simple habits in a short time, it is not dull. Little by little, and without noticing it, the task becomes a good habit.
To give you an idea of how they apply the Kaizen method in Japan, in schools, each child has a box with all his school supplies in it. When the day ends, they are given three minutes to collect their things and leave their spaces impeccable. The hustle and the fun attitude of the teachers make it an entertaining activity, far from something imposed.
Another example. In Japan, parents usually create, together with their children, a list of things that they must do every day: learn to add, wash their sneakers, or draw something. Daily goals are set, including spending quality time with family. The trick is that they are small steps that effortlessly make them go far.
With perseverance, anything can be achieved, and children love routines because they make them feel safer. They are not thinking about what to do but are clear about what to do. Exercises help them organize and avoid chaos. Children feel better when routines are regular, predictable, and consistent.
A tip: Besides making those minutes fun, another way to create the habit is to motivate the children with a prize at the end of the week. In this way, they know that their effort is rewarded.
Start with three minutes, then five, then ten… When the habit is built, your little one will automatically fulfill that task. The time will come when you don’t even look at the clock, and you don’t realize how much time you have spent on the task.
We invite you to practice the Kaizen method with your children. Remember that a series of continuous improvements is more effective than one big change. Small daily goals are easier to achieve, they generate satisfaction because we feel that we are advancing, and the effort is dosed.
Try it and tell us how it went.
Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara
Spanish version: here
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