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1、Household rules let everyone in the family know how to behave. They help family members achieve a balance between getting what they want and respecting the needs of others. They can also help children and teenagers feel safe and secure. Family rules: the basics Who to involve in making rules What to
2、 make rules about Kinds of rules How to develop rules When to start making rules Teenagers and rules Changing the rules Backing up the rulesFamily rules: the basicsFamily rules are positive statements about how your family wants to look after and treat its members. Rules can help everyone in your fa
3、mily get along better, and make family life more peaceful.When rules are clear, they help: children and teenagers learn where the limits are, and whats expected of them adults be consistent in the way they treat children and teenagers.Who to involve in making rulesIts important to involve all member
4、s of the family as much as possible when developing family rules.Children as young as three can help you make the rules and talk about why your family needs them.As children get older, they can take a bigger part in deciding what the rules should be, as well as the consequences for breaking them. Pr
5、e-teens and teenagers get a lot of good out of being involved in making rules, because it gives them the chance to take responsibility for their own behaviour.Involving your child in creating both the family rules and the consequences for breaking them helps her understand and accept them.What to ma
6、ke rules aboutChoose the most important things to make rules about for example, a rule about not physically hurting each other would be a must for most families.You might also develop rules about safety, manners, politeness, daily routines and respect for each other.Every familys rules will be diffe
7、rent. The standards you create will be influenced by your beliefs, values, your situation and your childs maturity and needs.Kinds of rulesRules come in different shapes and sizes. But all good rules have something in common: they are specific and easy to understand.Do rulesDo rules are good teachin
8、g tools, and theyre best in most situations because they guide your childs behaviour in a positive way. Here are some examples: Sit down to eat. Speak in a polite voice. Wear your seatbelt in the car. Be gentle with each other. Be home by curfew.Its best to have more do than dont rules.Dont rulesUse
9、 dont rules when its difficult to explain exactly what to do instead. Here are some examples: Dont spit. Dont ask for things in the supermarket. Dont get in a car with a P-plater or any other driver who has been drinking.Ground rulesThese are rules that apply everywhere, no matter what. Some ground
10、rules might apply to the whole family, whereas others might apply just to younger children or to teenagers. Rules about being polite and not hurting each other are examples of ground rules.Situation rulesSometimes it can help to have a short set of rules for specific situations. For example, you mig
11、ht have rules for: travelling in the car visiting another persons house using the computer going shopping.A few clear and specific rules usually work better than a long list, especially for younger children. As children get older and more mature, the rules can grow along with them. If your child ten
12、ds to break the rules, you might need to choose your battles and focus on basic issues like safety and fairness.How to develop rulesChildren and teenagers like to be involved in the rule-making process.Taking part in discussions about rules wont necessarily stop young people from breaking them. But
13、it will help them understand what the rules are and why theyre needed.Many families find it helps towrite down a set of rulesabout how family members are expected to behave. Writing them down makes them clear, and can also prevent arguments about what is or isnt allowed. Sticking the rules on the fr
14、idge, or in another prominent spot, can help younger children be aware of them.Written rules are also helpful for teenagers. For children of this age, instead of making the rules public by sticking them on the fridge, its a good idea to keep them somewhere a little more private thats still handy for
15、 when you need to refer to them.For younger children, consider drawing pictures or putting together images from the internet that show the rules. Then put the pictures up in a place everyone can see them. If you involve children in drawing or colouring the poster, it gives you a chance to discuss th
16、e rules with them.When to start making rulesYou can start making simple rules as soon as your child has the language skills to understand them. This is part of teaching your child what you expect.Young childrenwill need support and reminders to follow rules, because theyre likely to forget or ignore rules. This is espe
