Teach your kids these Important Rules
While your sister might allow her kids to jump on the furniture, you might decide that’s not OK in your house. Or maybe the kids are allowed to bang on the pots and pans in your kitchen but in Grandma’s house, that’s a no-no.
It’s important to create a clear set of household rules so your children know what’s allowed and what type of behavior is off limits. Establishing clear rules is a simple way to reduce behavior problems and increase consistency with your discipline.
Kids need enough rules to feel safe and secure. But, if you give them too many rules, you might stifle their development.
Next to love, a sense of discipline is a parent’s second most important gift to a child.
~ T. Berry Brazelton, M. D.
Rules That Promote Social Skills
Kids also need rules that teach them social skills. For example, “Share your toys with your brother,” or “Take turns while playing the game,” teach appropriate ways to interact with others.
Older kids may need rules about their electronics. Establish rules that limit your child’s smartphone and computer use and rules that encourage appropriate etiquette. For example, make the dinner table a “phone-free zone” and don’t allow your child to sleep with a smartphone in his room.
Create Your List of Household Rules
Create a formal list of written household rules. Cover the major rules that you think are the most important. For example, if keeping an orderly house is especially important to you, a rule might be “Pick up after yourself,” or “Make your bed each morning.”
Here are some strategies that will make your rules most effective:
- Use a positive spin: Try to word the rules in a positive way when possible. Say, “Use respectful language,” instead of “No swearing.”
- Be prepared to enforce the rules: If you’re going to include a rule on the list, be prepared to enforce it. If you’re not really going to address issues like swearing or not making the bed, don’t add it to the list. Otherwise, you’ll send the message that the items on the list are suggestions, as opposed to rules.
- Provide consequences for broken rules: Kids need consequences to help them make better choices the next time. Appropriate consequences for breaking the rules may include things such as time out, loss of privileges or restitution.
- Review the rules often: The rules you needed when your child was a preschooler are going to be much different from the rules you need when he’s a teenager. Adjust your household rules as your family grows and changes.
- Allow the kids to offer input: Ultimately, the list of your rules are up to you, but your child will be more motivated to follow the rules when he feels like he’s had an opportunity to offer some input. Your child may come up with new ideas and things you hadn’t even though of including, so have an open mind.
- Be a good role model: Your household rules should be rules that everyone follows—including you. So don’t include rules you don’t plan to follow. If a rule at your house is to tell the truth, don’t say your 13-year-old is only 12 just to get a cheaper movie ticket.
- Own your mistakes: Even adults break the rules sometimes. But if you try to downplay your behavior or make excuses, your kids will do the same when they break the rules. So if you say a swear word or you tell a lie, take full responsibility for your behavior.
- Provide a short explanation of the rules: Kids will be much more likely to see the importance of a rule if they understand the reasoning behind the rule. So explain, “We walk in the house because there isn’t enough room to run around and someone might get hurt.”
- Post your list of rules: Hang up your list of written rules in an area where everyone can see them, like on the refrigerator. Just make sure the list isn’t too long or too complicated—you don’t want it to become more like a policy manual rather than a list of household rules.
- Explain exceptions to the rules: Whether it’s a holiday or a special circumstance that causes you to break the rules, explain the reasons you’re breaking the rules to your children. Let them know you are willing to make exceptions to the rules sometimes.
