Living With Rules

Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to encourage positive child behavior and enforce family rules. The articles in this section help parents learn how to make clear rules and enforce them with consistency and appropriate consequences.

Name the Consequence
What happens when children don’t follow the rules that you have set for them? How can you set the stage for good behaviors? Setting limits, making rules, and teaching children to control themselves is one of the most difficult jobs of parenting. Rules that work teach children appropriate behavior and help children make better decisions.

Good Manners
Raising polite children can seem like a huge undertaking, but teaching young children to be polite is easiest between the ages of three to six. This is when they are most influenced by their parents and most anxious to please adults.

Rules and Responsible Behavior
Even very young children can take some responsibility for their actions or for taking care of themselves and their space. Set up rules for responsibility early and you can build responsible behavior in children.

Rules for Fire Safety
Follow a few rules to help your family be prepared in case a fire occurs.

Rules for the Ride: Car Safety
There are so many rules about child passenger safety that many parents are confused. What’s important for your children to know is that parents enforce rules as well as set them.

Rules for Outside the Home
Often, it is easier to set and keep rules for your own home than for public places. But, if you work with your children to set rules and consequences before you leave home, it will be easier to make sure they behave according to those rules.

Tips on Rules
Young children who are used to clear rules and consistent consequences are less likely to risk using alcohol and other drugs as they get older.