Lessons on the Importance of Rules

When children have a clear understanding of the rules and why they must follow them, they are better able to meet your expectations with the appropriate behavior. Take advantage of natural opportunities to teach your kids lessons about rules, discipline and safety, and provide constructive activities and games that reinforce these concepts. Incorporate developmental activities that help children refine listening and speaking skills, which are necessary for following rules and directions well.

  1. Consistency

    • Setting and enforcing rules consistently is essential to effective discipline; it gives children opportunities to learn what the rules are and why they're important. When parents establish rules on the spot or in the heat of the moment, children have no opportunity to ask questions, voice opinions or demonstrate understanding of the rules. If rules aren't consistently enforced, children receive mixed messages about what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Call a family meeting once a month to go over, revise or establish new family rules. Take the time to explain rules to kids, and maintain open communication so that your children have a chance to contribute to the discussion.

    Natural Consequences

    • Natural consequences to life's happenings provide valuable opportunities for teaching your children the importance of rules. When your child leaves the gate open and the family dog gets out of the yard, for example, point the consequence out to your child and reiterate why it's important to close the gate behind him. Allow natural consequences to occur to help children learn important lessons about rules. If your teen stays out past curfew on a school night, wake her up and send her off at the regular time. She'll be tired, but she'll learn why it's important to be home at 9 instead of 10:30.

    Visual Aids

    • Charts, diagrams, checklists, rule plaques and other visual aids are useful for helping children to understand, remember and accurately follow important safety rules. Create family rules together for answering the front door, using kitchen equipment, washing hands and evacuation procedures and write them on construction paper. Use simple words and images to help children understand what to do. Discuss the importance of each rule or step and display the finished rule plaques in relevant areas of your home.

    Games

    • Board games, party games and backyard games require kids to learn and follow rules in order to participate. They also require children to pay attention, recall information, listen carefully and follow directions -- all of which are important to a child's ability to remember and follow rules. Take advantage of these opportunities to teach your children the importance of rules. Point out the consequences as they occur for both following directions well and forgetting rules, steps or sequences.

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