What are your household rules?

[Anonymous]

I am puzzled by all the lack of rules.

We have tons. Off the top of my head:

—sit down while eating
—take small bites, chew with your mouth closed
—wash your hands after you use the potty
—clean up after yourself
—no hitting, pinching, biting siblings
—no name calling or other inappropriate language
—no running in the bathrooms and kitchen
—no standing up in the bathtub
—no playing on the stairs
—you have to change your underwear every day
—put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
—say please and thank you, be respectful to adults
—hold hands crossing the street
—don’t run where a parents cannot see you when outside
—must wear seat belt while driving
—must wear helmet while scattering or biking
—no playing with balls in the house

And so many more. We also have positive ones (be kind, be flexible, etc). My kids are 2-8 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am puzzled by all the lack of rules.

We have tons. Off the top of my head:

—sit down while eating
—take small bites, chew with your mouth closed
—wash your hands after you use the potty
—clean up after yourself
—no hitting, pinching, biting siblings
—no name calling or other inappropriate language
—no running in the bathrooms and kitchen
—no standing up in the bathtub
—no playing on the stairs
—you have to change your underwear every day
—put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
—say please and thank you, be respectful to adults
—hold hands crossing the street
—don’t run where a parents cannot see you when outside
—must wear seat belt while driving
—must wear helmet while scattering or biking
—no playing with balls in the house

And so many more. We also have positive ones (be kind, be flexible, etc). My kids are 2-8 years.

Are you an anxious and controlling person in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do what Mom says.

In a nutshell.

This.

[Anonymous]

Respect.

Food is eaten at the table. Respect the house, the others who use it, and the people who have to clean it (including yourself).

Clean up after yourself. Again, respect the house, the others who use it, and the people who have to clean it (including yourself).

Treat others as you want them to treat you. Respect yourself and others.

Treat others' things as you'd like them to treat your things. Respect yourself and others.

Do what you're asked, when you're asked. Respect yourself, your time, others and their time.

Limit things that aren't healthy (including sugar, carbonation, screen time, etc). Treat your body with respect.

It's all variations on respect.

[Anonymous]

Never go to bed upset.

Follow the advice of your uncles.

Sometimes the hard decision is the right one.

Have Mercy!

[Anonymous]

We have four. They are posted on the fridge, and I quiz the kids on them occasionally. Kids are 6, 8, 10, and 12.

- Be kind to others
- Keep your hands (and feet) to yourself
- Follow directions
- Tell the truth

There is also a general rule that you can do whatever you want as long as it's not immoral, illegal, or unhealthy. I think I read that in a book years ago, and it stuck.

[Anonymous]

Respect of yourself
Respect of others
Respect of property
Respect of environment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am puzzled by all the lack of rules.

We have tons. Off the top of my head:

—sit down while eating
—take small bites, chew with your mouth closed
—wash your hands after you use the potty
—clean up after yourself
—no hitting, pinching, biting siblings
—no name calling or other inappropriate language
—no running in the bathrooms and kitchen
—no standing up in the bathtub
—no playing on the stairs
—you have to change your underwear every day
—put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
—say please and thank you, be respectful to adults
—hold hands crossing the street
—don’t run where a parents cannot see you when outside
—must wear seat belt while driving
—must wear helmet while scattering or biking
—no playing with balls in the house

And so many more. We also have positive ones (be kind, be flexible, etc). My kids are 2-8 years.

Are you an anxious and controlling person in general?

NP. These all seem reasonable to me and are expectations we have for our 2 and 4yo.
I think it depends on how you think of “rules”. Like, if “stay safe” is a rule, it covers small bites, bathtub standing, running into traffic etc.

I think most of the people posting their sets of 4 rules probably have 50 more that ladder up to things like “be kind”.

[Anonymous]

One of the worst kids I ever taught lived in a house with two rules. In reality, your short list covers a host of expected behaviors. For example, your teenager don’t sit *on* the dinner table. ( My preschooler is trying that particular behavior out this week. We aren’t having it.) The short list is just a way to help kids understand your expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the worst kids I ever taught lived in a house with two rules. In reality, your short list covers a host of expected behaviors. For example, your teenager don’t sit *on* the dinner table. ( My preschooler is trying that particular behavior out this week. We aren’t having it.) The short list is just a way to help kids understand your expectations.

Ha! Four rule mom here.
I would probably pin that under unhealthy and explain why we don’t want germs from our bottom near where we are going to eat our food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the worst kids I ever taught lived in a house with two rules. In reality, your short list covers a host of expected behaviors. For example, your teenager don’t sit *on* the dinner table. ( My preschooler is trying that particular behavior out this week. We aren’t having it.) The short list is just a way to help kids understand your expectations.

Ha! Four rule mom here.
I would probably pin that under unhealthy and explain why we don’t want germs from our bottom near where we are going to eat our food.

Yes, exactly. These parents apparently didn’t understand that.

[Anonymous]

No eating on the couch & no wearing shoes inside, and that's it.

My kids are pretty easy and I haven't had to develop strict rules.

[Anonymous]

Take off shoes and wash hands when you come in the house from being outside.
Put the toys/books/etc. back in their place when no longer using before you can move on to another activity.
If you didn't ask nicely and say please, I didn't hear your request. (say thank you as well!)
Bedtime routine is set in stone - bath/hygiene stuff, a little time to play with sibling in one of your bedrooms, 2 books of your choosing, lights out.

I'm sure there's other stuff along the same note. Kids are 2 and 4.

[Anonymous]

Used to be:
No gum
No caffeine
No Spongebob

All those went by the wayside pretty quickly!