If you only offer young people support and empowerment, you shortchange them. Just as important, children and teenagers need to see you behaving in healthy and responsible ways. Though they will get mixed or conflicting messages from the media, peers, and others, they need you to set and enforce clear, respectful rules and limits. They need you to expect and help them to do and be their best. This guidance helps them learn how to be responsible, contributing members of society.
Infants Realize babies don t intentionally violate standards and boundaries.
Don t punish them for violating boundaries they can t understand. Distract children from inappropriate behavior and draw attention to how you want them to act. Enforce boundaries consistently so children don t get confused. Affirm children when they act appropriately. Preschoolers Stay calm when children act out in highly emotional ways.