Purpose: Each home should establish its own set of rules, values and guidelines. It helps create a feeling of a safe and secure environment for your children and friends that visit It also helps to clarify expectations and define boundaries in the home.
Use this lesson as a guide to helping create rules with your children (of all ages) as to what is expected of them in regards to their behavior. Talk about each rule that you want to make so that there is understanding from the beginning. This also helps give them ownership in what is expected to make the home run smoothly. Also teach that these are rules that they should follow wherever they go.
Lesson Materials: Bold writing utensil(s), poster board/large sheet of paper
1. What are some things Mom and Dad (Guardian’s name) ask you to do?
2. What are some rules that we can follow at home? (Write down some ideas the kids have on one side of sheet/poster)
3. (Turn the poster/sheet over) These are the rules we will follow at home. Write 3-4 simple rules and explain how the rules they gave are a part of these. Draw/take pictures to go with rules.
Sample House Rules:
1. Obey Your Parents: avoid arguing and do what is asked of you the first time.
2. Tell the Truth
3. Treat each other with respect and respect each other’s property.
4. Help out around the house: pick up after yourself, establish assigned chores and discuss rewards/penalties for not completing chores that are assigned. Talk about being rewarded for doing more than is asked, but how they could also be serving the family (without always having to be rewarded).
5. You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.
* Other ideas may be included and adapted for the ages of your children, such as curfew, dating guidelines, grooming and dress guidelines and so forth. The most important thing is to keep communication lines open with your children so they understand why these rules are important to you and the family.
Poster Example of House Rules: