Saying It Straight

It really does work! Here were parents with a 5 year-old who had never been controlled appropriately. Yet when they eyeballed him, and spoke with authority, the change in behavior was dramatic.

Kids really do want clear expectations and boundaries. They not only want to know ‘what’ the expectations are, but as they get to an age of reasoning (about 10-12 years of age), they want to know why you have created particular family values and why they need to behave certain ways. Kids also want parents to be consistent. The best way to ensure this is by role-modeling the desired behaviors and by having clear expectations.

You will know you have done a good job with discipline when your kids behave well at home, and when they are out of your sight. How can you make this happen? Kids need to not only know what the behavioral expectations are, but why they need to adhere to them. They need to mature past the mentality that negative behavior always means punishment. They need to understand how their misbehavior affects others; and that it shows disrespect. Unacceptable behavior also damages a person’s reputation for later life.

The term, ‘Say what you mean, and mean what you say’ is very true when it comes to giving clear messages to your children.

If you have any comments or success stories on this subject, please contact us at info@forefrontfamilies.org, or visit our website on www.forefrontfamilies.org