Habit –Forming products is an innovative term to get acquainted with, and the Indian education system is only touching bases with hands-on learning now. For decades, the education system has always concentrated on theoretical learning and has not paid attention to the perks of practical learning. Even in the marking system of major boards, theory tests have more weightage than practical tests. Educators keep questioning ourselves every day about the sort of education we wish to give our children?

According to various research conducted by scientists, children start developing habits at the young age of nine and they pick up a lot of them at once.

Habit Forming in Kids
Before you realize it, your child might have already picked up the bad habit of nail biting or nose picking and you cannot do anything about it. However, good habits like studying are developed in children at a much later stage. Some case studies show that children who learn self-control sooner in their lives are set up for more success in the future. Hence, parents and teachers must start instilling good habits like self-control in children at a young age.

It is a popular belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this statement yet. As you train your children to form habits, it might take more than 21 days to make them learn good habits and stick to them. Patience is the key when it comes to forming habits.

Coming back to habit-forming products, this term was first coined in Nir Eyal's 'Hooked: How to build Habit Forming Products’. This book primarily focuses on the Hook Model that enhances user engagement and why big and small companies should follow it.

How can Practical Habit-Forming Products become a Fundamental Asset to Children?
Well, over the years, I have seen children struggling to grasp different concepts in their syllabus. If practical habit-forming products are introduced into their curriculum then it can bring a revolutionary change to their future. One such habit-forming concept that is constructive for kids is S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) learning. STEM- Based Learning is a great concept that enhances the multiple intelligence skills and logical thinking abilities of children. When this concept is applied to develop habit-forming products, it will train kids in futuristic skills and quickly grasp difficult technical concepts at an early age.

The traditional Indian education system has scarcely given practical learning a fighting chance. Theoretical knowledge alone can't help them succeed.

Pairing theory and practical concepts let kids go through real-life experiences and help them understand any situation better. Let me take you to one of the small-scale initiatives that our country has taken toward the holistic development of children. It is called Activity-based learning. The model focuses on child development where kids develop self-learning skills and are encouraged to study according to their skills. It is a part of the mandate of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) Act in India. The Education Ministry of India has also introduced a new mandate in the National Education Policy (NEP) to focus on a goal-oriented and practical learning system. This form of learning focuses on concept building and strengthening.

Parents can also step in and introduce STEM Education to their children by getting them various STEM toys that they can build on their own at home

Imagining a future where students are applying their theoretical knowledge in real life on a day-to-day basis will not only be a huge advantage for their future but also for their parents. Children will be trained to think logically & it will enhance their cognitive skills, intelligence, and more. They will be ready for their career much before they thought they could.

However, inculcating such practical habit-forming products in the education system might pose a massive challenge to educational institutes as it requires massive capital and resources. Educational institutes have implemented several learning tactics for the advancement of the students & they must strongly consider adopting learning through habit-forming products. This system will tap into the hidden potential of children and drive them towards a new window of opportunities in practical and solution-based thinking.

When it comes to learning concepts, children take their own sweet time. Habit-forming products are a plus to teach them good habits and give them hands-on experience in real-life challenges.

Conclusion
This new-age idea has not been implemented yet in the education system as it is a very fresh concept that the institutes might not know about. However, there is a lot of scope in building habit-forming products if prodigious and intelligent minds actually start thinking about it and create activities and products that inculcate valuable habits in children. The ideation of such products is a challenge that we have to overcome for children to prosper in the future.

It is not solely the responsibility of educational institutes to implement such new-age concepts. Parents can also step in and introduce STEM Education to their children by getting them various STEM toys that they can build on their own at home. There are various STEM educational DIY Toys that simplify tough technical concepts for kids. STEM Education can be the future of the next generation, it has the power to transform the minds of children and will lead them toward innovation.