Children are known to have a mind of their own. They always want what they don’t have and can become quite stubborn in situations where they are supposed to do something that they find difficult. Children, especially the little ones, need parents who know how to guide them into doing things that will be beneficial for them in the future. If you want your child to be a wise adult, then first you have to learn how to raise a wise kid. Here are some tips on what rules children should follow and which ones will make them outstanding adults
1. Consequences for not following the rules
Parents must always present fair consequences for their kids if they refuse or fail to obey certain rules. For example, if a child does not want to eat his food and starts throwing a tantrum because he wants to play, let him know that he will not be allowed outside until he finishes eating. This rule should only apply to things that are out of the ordinary because kids need some time off from their restrictions depending on what they’re up to.
2. Compliance with rules
There are some rules that the child has to comply by no matter how difficult it is for him or her. If a child fails to follow certain house rules, then he or she will get punished through extra chores, less allowance, etc. A good way would be to let children do what they are capable of doing and increase their responsibilities as they grow older. If the child is not capable of completing a certain task, then he or she doesn’t have to do it at all.
3. No hurting others
Children need to be taught from an early age that violence is never appropriate no matter what the circumstance is. The example should always start at home and there is no room for violence in the child’s life. Parents should explain why hurting others is not an option and let them know that they won’t be able to play unless they stop hitting their siblings.
4. No demanding
The best way to prevent children from becoming demanding adults is by not allowing them to do so when they’re kids. If you give them what they want all the time, then they will continue to expect things from others even when they grow up. This may be hard on parents because it means that they’ll have to say ‘no’ a lot and disappoint their children, but this is how kids learn how to respect other people’s rights and opinions.
5. Patience with wait time
When you give your child something that he or she wants, then it’s expected that they have to wait for it. The child has to understand that the parents are not at their beck and call and be patient when they say ‘no’. If a kid misbehaves because he or she doesn’t get what they want right away, then the parents need to provide consequences for their behavior. Parents should never do what the children ask without considering how they’ve behaved.
6. Respect of personal boundaries
It’s not enough for a child to respect other people’s property, but the kid needs to learn that respecting personal boundaries is also important. If a child touches something that belongs to someone else and who doesn’t want them to touch it, then the parents should let them know that this is not acceptable and they shouldn’t do it again or they’ll get punished.
7. Respect of private matters
Parents must learn how to draw the line when it comes to what the kid can share with others and what is none of their business. If the child wants to share something that was told in confidence, then he or she has no right to do so because it’s a betrayal of trust. Parents should always teach the kid not to tell gossip and talk about things they don’t know anything about.
8. No gossiping
Talking behind other people’s backs is a form of gossiping and parents should always teach the kid that it’s not appropriate. Gossiping and not speaking in front of people about their behavior is never acceptable and this needs to be stressed in order for the kids to learn how to behave in social situations.
9. Education
Education is important and parents need to stress this to their children. The parents should make sure that the child knows how important school is and they need to act on it if he or she does badly in any subject. Parents also need to teach them how to study and take part in family activities like doing chores around the house instead of watching TV all day.
10. Learning self-control
Children need to learn how to control themselves and that they can’t always do what they want. Self-control is a great life skill and kids who learn it will have an easier time when they get older. Parents should make sure to teach the kid not to cry or scream if he/she fails in something or gets hurt, but still go on with the day.
11. Respect of others’ time
Parents need to teach their kids that if they’re late, then other people will get angry because that’s not how adults behave. If children are made aware that being late is rude, then they can learn how to show respect for what other people have planned in their own lives.
12. No excuses
Excuses are just that, excuses, and children must know that they’re not acceptable to parents. Adults do not accept excuses for bad behavior and children should be made aware of this as well. They need to understand what the consequences are if they misbehave so they can start taking responsibility for their mistakes rather than blaming them on someone else.
13. Being a good citizen
Teaching children how to be a good citizen is very important because they will have to deal with other people in the future and everyone should know how treat one another. Good citizenship means being kind, helpful, sharing and understanding of others’ opinions and rights. Children need to understand that they are not the only individuals on the planet and there are other people around them.
14. Understanding what it means to be a family
Being a family means that everyone needs to work together in order for things to run smoothly. Everyone has different roles, some are parents or guardians, but every member of the family plays an important role because they are all necessary for the relationship to last. Children need to understand that they can’t break family rules or do something that will upset their parents because that’s what breaks families apart.
Understanding these rules are essential when it comes to raising kids and making sure you’re doing a good job at parenting is important in order for children to grow up with good values. Parents need to teach the kids the above tips and tricks so they can learn how to behave as a member of society and have good values from an early age.