How to Set up House Rules for a 3-year-old

When my daughter turned three, I thought WHEW, we made it past the "terrible twos" unscathed...well little did I know what was around the corner...Suddenly she was ruling the roost. So we got together and created some House Rules, and it WORKED.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Big construction paper
• Pictures of your child playing
• Markers
• Glitter Pens
• Crayons
• Kid's sissors

1. First, take your child with you to the store to shop for all these items. Tell him/her that you are going to have a family night and together you are going to set up the rules of the house. Let your child pick out his/her favorite markers, colored paper, etc.

2. Next, pick a night when the whole family can have dinner together, clean up together and then can sit down for a family art project.

3. First, list out 3-4 house rules that you and your spouse/partner have agreed to. For example, 1) Listen to Mommy/Daddy, 2) No Talking Back, 3) Show Love and Respect

4. After you have explained the rules and written them on the posterboard, then draw two arrows - one to what happens if you abide by the rules and one if you don't.

5. Explain what happens if your child follows the rules - playtime, tickletime, wrestletime, and TVtime. And if he/she doesn't, then there will be one warning and then a time out.

6. Then let your child just go to town with the decorating of the rules - and together use the glitter, stickers, crayons, markers and pictures to decorate them.

7. Hang the Rules in your child's room and review each morning.

Tips & Warnings

• If your child starts to act out, ask him/her if they need to go and review the rules together.

[karileighk]

on 6/27/2009 I work with children. This is helpful. *5