Psychologists have learned over time that once you have taught an original behavior or set consequences in place and reinforced them over a set period of time constantly and consistantly it's harder to change the pattern. Behavior modification is term that basically means teaching. Studies have found that a child will retain the lesson better if, after initially being reinforced consistantly, it is then reinforced every second or third time or more randomly. This is enough to still enforce the behavior or consequence without causing the child to think if it is not applied once they should forget what they have learned. This is very important.
Children learn from their parents, by their actions, far more than by their words.
The best form of teaching is by example. The consequence for not providing structure, for failing to teach our children, can be a heavy one. Many of those children end up in trouble with the law or in substance abuse programs because they have not had any or enough structure in their lives, because they have not been taught the consequences for their actions and society still imposes those consequences. In the best interests of our children we must impose consequences for structure, never forgetting the positive, the rewarding wonderful parts of parenting. Actions speak louder than words.