In his book Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours, Dr. Kevin Leman writes: “The permissive parent essentially says, ‘Oh, do your own thing. Whatever you want is OK.’ My years of counseling parents and children have shown me that in a permissive environment, kids rebel. They rebel because they feel anger and hatred toward their parents for a lack of guidelines and limit setting.”
So true. A very important way to show your children love is to have clear, defined limitations for them. Your kids want guidelines for their lives that are reliably enforced. You are the one who creates a safe environment for them. Setting boundaries is an important piece of parenting. It doesn’t mean they won’t push your boundaries, they will. It is a part of their learning process and they may even be upset when you uphold certain boundaries, but they will also feel safe and secure at the same time. Here are 10 ways to establish clear boundaries for your kids.
When you fail to back up your words with action your words will cease to mean anything. 1. Be trustworthy
Your kids need to know that they can count on you. When you fail to back up your words with action your words will cease to mean anything. Your discipline and boundary setting will become hollow.
2. Less is more
Follow the guideline of a special education teacher we know. “Five rules respected 100% of the time are better than 20 rules with haphazard compliance.”
3. Be precise
Miscommunication is not the way to establish a positive environment. Effective communication is necessary. Ask them to repeat back to you what they heard you say to verify it’s understood. It pays to make sure everyone is on the same page.
4. Involve the kids in boundary setting
Have a family meeting. Family communication gets everyone involved in setting the boundaries. When children share ownership of the rules, they’re more invested.
5. Draw up a contract
Once the “Family Ten-Commandments” have been established, write up a document that everyone will sign.
6. Post the rules
Post copies of the contract in the kitchen and in each bedroom. Remember, these are not restrictions so much as rules to live by.
7. Recognize appropriate behavior
Teachers refer to this as, “Catch ‘em when things are going well.” Too many of us come down on violations like a ton of bricks and never pay attention to what’s going well. If it’s attention they’re after, they’ll get it one way or the other.
8. Avoid labeling children as “good” and “bad”
Children—and adults—behave in ways that are acceptable and in ways that are unacceptable. Labeling a child as “bad” will do little to improve behavior and a lot to create a negative self-image.
9. NEVER undermine the other parent
“Good-cop, bad-cop” is not a useful game at home. “Don’t tell your mom!” suggests you and your wife are divided. Parents must have each other’s backs. It’s another way to be consistent.
10. Employ “natural consequences” when possible
When raising teenagers, natural consequences just make more sense. For younger children, this helps associate negative outcomes with specific behavior.
If a room is not cleaned as instructed, missing a fun activity while cleaning the room is less a punishment and more of a consequence.
Inappropriate talk? Instead of a spanking try having the child look up ten appropriate words in the dictionary and copy them all down, including definitions, etymology (origin of the word), etc.
What boundaries have you set for your kids that have been the hardest to hold?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Why do you think I set boundaries for you?”