Every night, a father tells his grade-schooler, right after supper, I would like you to take the garbage and put it in the trash can outside. His child knows exactly what to do. If he had said, Clean up everything after supper, his son would not know what his father really expected. Children should not be blamed or punished for failing to do what their parents never made clear in the first place. The best limits tell children what to do, when to do it, and how well it should be done.
Positive limits can help children manage strong emotions.
When children become angry and act destructively, parents are likely to think first of negative limits. This limit clearly communicates to children one reasonable way they might express their anger. Your Childhood Limits 4. Be consistent with limits you set Children are more likely to respect limits that are consistent. If parents have made it clear that they expect their children to wash their hands before supper or do their homework before watching television, these limits should not change from day to day.