Why rules are important |Importance of Rules |

#Kiddie Cove
#rules
#Why rules are important
#What are rules?
Rules are instructions that tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do.
Why rules are important?
When used appropriately, rules provide a sense of predictability and consistency for children, thereby promoting physical and emotional safety. Rules help guide actions toward desired results.
Rules are important as families and citizens have to live their lives in a happy but safe state. Some aspects of why rules are important are: to maintain civil behavior, be organized, more harmony in the community. Even under these aspects, there are more branches of why rules are important.
Family rules help children understand what behaviors are okay and not okay. As children grow, they will be in places where they have to follow rules. Following rules at home can help children learn to follow rules in other places. It is normal for children to break rules and test limits.
Rules prepare your children for the real world as your limits & boundaries provide a framework so your child can understand what’s expected of them and what will happen if they don’t comply. Having clear family expectations, such as “no hitting each other” or ” all your toys need to be picked up before bedtime & tidied away,” to “ we all brush our teeth after breakfast” and then enforcing consequences if they break the rules, will help them adapt better to new situations, perform better at school and fit in easily at work & in society generally.
Rules teach children how to socialise. Some rules are just basic manners, like saying “please” & “thank you” or “excuse me” before interrupting. If you make it a policy to use polite words at home, your child will not only be more pleasant to be around, but they’ll also learn appropriate ways to get what they want & need. Respect is the key energy of any happy home.
Rules provide a sense of order. Certain rules help a child predict what will come next, such as “Washing their hands before dinner” or “Holding your hand when they cross the road.” Even little ones cooperate better when they know what’s required of them, and that helps them gain a sense of belonging & security.
Rules make kids feel capable & competent. Clear, consistent, fair limits reduce power struggles because your kids won’t need to constantly test you to discover where your boundaries lie. This doesn’t mean your kids won’t ever test you; it just means that after the hundredth time they’ll realise it won’t get them anywhere. You can’t be worn down! Take the longer-term view, not the short term quick easy way out!

State your rules in the positive – “We eat in the kitchen at the table” rather than “No running about with food” & praise them and catch them doing something right – rather than moaning and nagging and shouting when they do something wrong. Get your kids to make positive posters of your family house rules so they buy into them. ( And be clear and consistent on the consequences if they break or forget the rules!)

Rules reassure kids. No matter how often children act as if they want to be in control, having too much power is frightening. It’s a bit like giving the keys to your 4×4 car to the kids and letting them drive – they haven’t passed their test yet & they’re out of control! They intuitively know that they need an adult to be in charge, and they count on you to guide, nurture and steer their behaviour.

When your 6 year old comes out of their bedroom repeatedly at bedtime, they need you to take consistent, repetitive, predicable & decisive action instead of giving half-hearted warnings that carry no weight. Speak in commands “Back to bed” don’t appeal in begging tones “asking” them to go back to bed – appealing to their better selves! There’s no need to shout, or get angry simply take them back each time as you calmly state your rules “You’re to stay in your room and go to sleep after your story.” Then reinforce your consequences “If you come out again, you won’t get your sticker, go to the sleepover at Grandma’s” or whatever you have set up as the consequences in your house.

Rules help keep kids safe & encourage good behaviour & citizenship. Children, and some adults, often complain as if rules were made up randomly but the truth is that society, work places & schools run efficiently around rules, as rules and regulations are designed to protect your kids & keep them safe. Be mindful of how you speak about rules as your kids are learning your values from how you talk about rules.

Rules boost confidence. Gradually (& age and maturity appropriately) expand the limits placed around your child, they’ll become more confident about their own emerging independence and their ability to handle responsibility as you help them to become more independent and autonomous.