Teaching Tips for Lesson 13: Habits and Why They Matter

This is the thirteenth of seventeen blogs providing practical teaching tips inspired by the lyrics and concepts from the Sammy Rabbit song Get in the Habit!

In the original blog, How the Sammy Rabbit Song Get in the Habit Teaches Kids 17 Money Lessons — Plus Powerful Vocabulary, we explored how the song supports financial education in three powerful ways:

Through clear, repeatable phrases directly from the song
Through real-world money lessons that naturally emerge when kids discuss and apply those phrases or concepts
Through everyday money language that builds financial vocabulary.

Now, we’re expanding on that foundation with a series of blogs that offer teaching tips for each of the 17 individual lessons embedded in the song. Each blog will include: (1) Simple questions to ignite discussion and learning (2) Two easy-to-implement micro-activities (3) A challenge action step (4) Key words to build personal finance and life-skills vocabulary.

Let’s begin with Lesson 13. It's inspired by and derived from the song's lyrics.

You can click on the following links to find: song lyrics and a karaoke Video.

Summary

Lesson: Explain that habits are powerful because they shape our lives through repeated actions. When children practice a behavior again and again, it often produces predictable and positive results. This means anyone can intentionally choose the right habits—especially money habits—to move themselves closer to the kind of life they want. Helping kids understand this early empowers them to take ownership of their future.

Share with kids: A habit is something you do over and over, and the right one can help you get better at things. When you choose good habits, they help you get closer to the life and goals you want. When you choose good money habits, they help you make better choices with your money.

1. Simple Discussion Questions

Use one or two—short, easy, and great for home or classroom conversations.

What is a habit?
What happens when you do something again and again?
Can habits help shape your future?
What is one good habit you practice?
How can good money habits help you reach your goals?

2. Two Micro-Activities (2–5 Minutes Each)

---Micro-Activity 1: Again and Again

Materials: None

Ask kids to act out something simple (clapping once).

Then ask them to:

Clap again
Clap again

Ask:

Did it get easier the more you did it?
What happens when we repeat a habit?

Purpose: Shows how repetition strengthens habits and outcomes.

---Micro-Activity 2: Choose Your Habit

Materials: Paper and crayons (optional)

Ask kids to:

Draw or name one habit they want to practice (saving, reading, helping)
Circle it and say why they chose it

Have them say:

“I choose good habits!”

Purpose: Reinforces intentional choice and ownership of habits.

3. Challenge Action Step

Challenge:
This week, practice one good habit every day.

Ask kids to:

Pick a habit (like saving)
Practice it daily
Say each time:
“My habits help shape my future!”

This builds awareness that habits create predictable results.

4. Key Vocabulary Words

These are key words for this lesson that will help children understand repetition, choice, and outcomes.

Habit: Something you do again and again

Repeat: To do something more than once

Choice: A decision you make

Result: What happens because of a habit

Future: The time ahead

So when we say habits are powerful, we mean the things we repeat help shape who we become.

Now Check Out Lesson 14

This blog is part of a 17-lesson series that uses the Sammy Rabbit song Get in the Habit to make it fun, easy, and effective for anyone to talk with and teach young kids about great money habits.

When ready, check out Teaching Tips for Lesson 14: Small Choices Add Up. It focuses on how daily decisions or choices shape long-term outcomes.

Additional Songs and Fun Resources

Keep:

kids listening, learning, singing and growing with a FREE or PREMIUM Money School Memberships.
parents, teachers, and community leaders learning and growing their financial literacy teaching skills by reading Sam X Renick's series of articles: Money Lessons Parents Should Teach Kids!
delivering financial education at home, in school, and other venues with Sammy's Dream Big Financial Education curriculum!

Contact Sammy Today!

We welcome your questions, suggestions, and ideas! Let’s connect, brainstorm, and partner to keep helping kids, families, and communities build strong financial literacy knowledge, habits, and skills—so together, we can create better and brighter futures for all.