Dr. Daniel Amen's 6 Family Rules to Raise Happy, Well-Behaved Kids

Kids (and families) needs boundaries. But it's often difficult to draw lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Then there's the dilemma of how to police or discipline children when they act poorly, which can further complicate things. In this clip, taken from Dr. Daniel Amen's television special "Raising Mentally Strong Kids", Dr. Amen's gives his 6 family rules, which if incorporated in your family, can radically change the family dynamic and encourage good behavior and strong relationships.

Want to schedule a visit? Our highly trained specialists can guide you through the process so you and your loved ones can get the help you deserve.

Within the U.S. call 1-888-412-2713
Outside the U.S. call 1-949-266-3700

[jennylhenry]

Family Rules
1. Tell thr truth
2. Treat others with respect
3. Obey what your parents say right away
4. Put things away that you take out
5. Ask permission
6. Dony make a problem

[travelingismypassionh]

I just discovered him and Im obsessed with his videos. As a young mother of 3 kids ( 4, 2, 0) I want do all right but then sometimes I feel like I am doing everything wrong. His tipps are just what I needed..

[furattaraf]

Hi Amen
I am a mother of 3 kids ( a teenager, and 2 preschoolers) we live in IRAQ
unfortunately, it means that a husband who is the father is more spoiled and a tool for destroying the family more than babies and how to raise them, cause he was raised in the wrong ways ...
I was a translator and lived a beautiful life with English-speaking educated people, when I got married he treated me differently and said No to everything I asked or said...
One of these is your videos and instructions,
Please pray for me and for my kids especially a teenage boy who become a lived copy of his mean, ruthless, selfish, muscular father

[Deanforbes]

He's ahead of the game just by having rules. Most families don't even consider it, and kids can feel lost without direction and purpose.

[SuperDrewH]

My wife and I are high school sweethearts and thank God we had the same beliefs in raising our children. One of the things we did was not adopt the counting to 3 deal. When you were told to do something you then needed to do it, immediately. First time obedience.

[yvonnes]

Yes, 💯 kids like it less when you don’t check what they’re up to. They think you don’t care… I experienced this in my childhood. I was youngest kid and my parents had problems. I think on some level my parents cared but I didn’t feel like they cared when I was young…

Next to boundaries, I would say routines are highly important. It tells the kid they can count on you. It really doesn’t matter what the routine or tradition is (bedtime story, game night, Saturday grocery shopping, Taco Tuesday, whatever)—just as long as the routine is consistent.

Thanks for the tips on what good parenting looks like. I want to be the best parent I can be ❤

[AllThingsConsidered]

Best parenting book I ever read is “Raising great kids” by drs Henry Cloud & John Townsend. All that I hear Dr Amen say in these videos is what is said in this book. Good stuff. Very accurate & effective!

[readaloudkids]

Great advice! These policies are so true. The commenters who don’t like them are part of our current society which doesn’t believe in discipline or guidelines. Look where that has gotten us. Our country used to be full of much stronger people 100 years ago when kids were raised with discipline.

[AlinaTowers]

Truth is so important. Even if my child grows up and chooses to believe something different than I have taught them, if I’ve taught them to think critically and to value and pursue truth, I have done my job. Our society today has put experience above truth, so that people literally think they can “own” their own truth like a pet. And that “truth” is entirely dictated by their feelings. That creates an incredibly unstable world. Always honor truth, even if you’re not sure what it is!

[Clea-vxfy]

I love Dr.Amen!! Celebrating 3 years sober 5/5 due to his age work, thank you! 💜

[mm]

The first and foremost rule of every family to function is:

-Faith in God! Worship Him alone without any partner and follow His flawless laws. Only then you can start implementing what he is saying.

[lesleywillis]

Talk to them and listen to them would be my starting point.

[SuperRicky]

Wow I wasn’t expecting this to be about power over dynamics and punishment

[IOSARBX]

AmenClinics, You're amazing! I hit the like button as soon as I saw it!

[huneybee]

You are the parent. You set everything! Remember that!!

Talk to your child(ren)as a person. Communicate in complete subject verb agreement sentences. Don't ask a question you don't want answered.

[kathikathi]

Treat others with respect does apply for ALL family members. Kids will respect us as much as we respect them. No shouting, name calling, hitting (or threatening of physical violence).
And in my opinion this contradicts the idea of obeying blind and punishing kids for not doing so.

Of course parents and adults have the responsibility but that doesn't mean that children's feelings, ideas, and needs don't have the SAME priority. Not more, not less. The same.

[nadsnads]

I have 3 kids. All this is wonderful and easy and makes sense with normal kids. My middle one has ADHD you can throw all this into garbage.

[aawrnnc]

Listening to this, I thought of the instructions to parents in the book of Deuteronomy. Regarding the Ten Commandments, God (through Moses) instructed parents to ”Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.“
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭GNT‬‬

[himanshukhinchi]

Can you elaborate on "don't make a problem"

[zeeshanpandjou]

Thank you for sharing these rules which are great. Enforcing the rules is the hard part for us and wondering how do you enforce the rules with kids? What are the consequences when they don’t follow the rules?

Ang advice from people here would be super appreciated :)