Creating rules and structure for your children isn’t always easy, especially if it’s your first time having a kid. Oftentimes, parents tend to overlook that they’re talking to a young child whenever they try and discuss rules, or if they’re creating an activity schedule for their kids.
It’s important to know how to communicate with your kids, as well as knowing how kids understand what you’re saying, and there are three things that you should always keep in mind when it comes to creating rules and structure:
1. Keep it simple and clear
Say it in a way that your kids can easily understand. More often than not, parents give complicated instructions to their children, especially when it comes to house rules or implementing a routine. Say everything to your child in the simplest way so that they are sure to understand what it is you’re trying to communicate to them.
2. Set Expectations
Instead of telling your child what to do, you should tell them the results that you expect. If you want your child to clean up his toys before dinnertime, then you need to tell your child that you expect them to have the toys in the toy bin before eating dinner. Setting expectations lets your child have a clear understanding of what they should be doing, and also the outcome of their actions.
3. Give step-by-step instructions
Kids can follow things easier if you give them step by step instructions instead of saying it all at once. Let’s say that you want your child to make his bed right after she wakes up. What you can do in this case is to tell them that they should tuck the bedsheets in, fold their blanket, and then put their pillows on their bed. By breaking down your instructions, you’re making it easier for your child to understand what they should be doing.
The video below talks about what to do, and what not to do when it comes to rules and structure for your children.
READ: Infographic: Positive parenting tips
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