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Three
Family Rules for the New Year:
Obey, Show Respect and Be Kind
Rules
are important in family life. They clarify expectations and
provide opportunities for parents to teach about values. Some
parents, however, rely too heavily on rules. They develop
lists and family life boils down to a bunch of do's and don'ts.
Remember
that rules tend to focus on behavior and may miss the heart.
But, if you use rules wisely and talk often about why the
rules are helpful, you can teach your children a great deal
about the values you want to pass on. As you begin making
rules for young children, we would suggest three simple rules:
- Obey
- Show
Respect
- Be
Kind
Almost
any infraction in family life can fall under one of these
three. Having just a few rules is especially good for young
children. These three become the basis for most other rules
as children get older. Each of them represents an important
character quality.
These
rules are simple and introduce young children to the fact
that certain guidelines dictate what's expected in family
life. Talk about them often as you teach and discipline your
children. This will help to instill a sense of character even
at a young age.
This idea
was taken from the tape series, "Eight Secrets to
Highly Effective Parenting," by Dr. Scott Turansky and
Joanne Miller, RN, BSN
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