| Especially when your kids are toddlers, you must set | | | | leave a store if she touches things, then when she |
| rules and ensure that your kids follow them. Great | | | | touches something you must leave the store. As they |
| parents make those rules absolutely clear, and their | | | | get older, consequences may get more severe, but |
| kids know that if they choose to stray, there will be | | | | whatever you threaten you must follow through. For |
| consequences. Start when they are old enough to | | | | an older child, it may be that if your child comes home |
| understand what you are saying, that's about two | | | | late, he will be grounded for two weeks. If that's the |
| years old. If you set the boundaries when they are | | | | expectation, make sure that his grounding really is a full |
| young, it will be much easier on all of you when they | | | | two weeks. |
| get older and the consequences for their actions may | | | | "If you can't do that, then don't say it," McDermott |
| be much harsher. | | | | points out. "Having that follow through is so important. |
| Don't make idle threats and be sure to follow through | | | | Parenting takes a lot of time, it's a job. Come up with a |
| on what you say to your children. "If you say you're | | | | basket of tricks beforehand so you're not just saying |
| going to do something as a consequence, make sure | | | | something off the cuff that you can't follow through |
| you're capable of doing it and then do it," insists | | | | with." |
| Marlene McDermott, Marriage and Family Therapist at | | | | The worst thing a parent can do is make idle threats |
| Serenity Counseling in Palmyra, NJ.. | | | | because your child will figure that out very quickly. Say |
| When they are very young, start with something as | | | | what you mean, mean what you say, and follow |
| simple as following through on a time-out if they | | | | through. When your child knows you are serious, he will |
| misbehave. If you threaten your toddler that you will | | | | think carefully before disobeying a family rule. |