You want your children to learn how to follow the rules at a young age so that when they get older, they won’t resist. Instead, they will understand why you’re doing certain things. They will also find it easy to follow the rules when done in other settings. Here are some tips to help you in creating rules for children to follow.
Create realistic rules
When giving rules, they have to be straightforward and easy to understand. They should also be easy to follow. Don’t offer complicated instructions right away. Children will find it hard to follow them. Instead, try to break down the rules for them until they can understand your intentions.
Let them repeat the rules
Repetition will help you know if your children understand what you are trying to say. They also need to say things out loud at times to understand the instructions. If they don’t get it right, ask them to repeat the instructions until it’s clear.
Create consequences
There must be consequences for failing to follow the rules. They should understand the need to abide by the rules because they have to. If there are no consequences, they can break the rules at any time. For instance, if you wish to have soft play at home, make sure your children understand the rules in using the equipment. If they can’t follow what you say, you remove their privilege of playing. Then, in the future, they won’t break the rules anymore since they might have to face the consequences.
Make them realise the value of obedience
Perhaps, your children will have a hard time understanding why they need to follow the rules. They will complain about how strict you are. The problem is when you tell them to adhere to what you want without explaining it to them. They will view you as an authoritative figure and might not listen to you. The key is to let them see the value of obedience. They will listen to you not because they’re afraid but because they see the essence of doing what you say.
Involve them in the process
Instead of telling them what to do all the time, give them the chance to have a say in the process. Try to be more democratic. Your children might want to modify some rules and negotiate with you. Be open to it. Listen to them since they might also have a valid reason for changing the rules.
Make it a habit
Setting rules isn’t about scolding your children for not following them. It’s about habit formation. They should learn how to do the same things repeatedly because they already got used to them. Then, even without any reminder, they will do what’s right.
The best part about practising the rules at home is your children can do the same in other settings. They won’t be difficult to deal with at school. On the contrary, they will be a delight to their teachers. You will feel proud that you raised them the right way.
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