Clear and helpful rules at home are crucial. But how do we take a “good” rule and make it a “great” rule?

My philosophy is that the rules of the house should be practical, attainable, and beneficial. When parents find their teens pushing against boundaries, I will often encourage them to evaluate their rules with these three questions:

One: Does this rule have a clear purpose to help my teen achieve their goals?

Two: Can my child really live up to this expectation?

And three: Will there be a positive outcome if my teen follows the rule?

If a rule can’t answer “yes” to any of these three questions, I say ditch it.  Are your rules practical attainable, and beneficial?

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