Set and enforce standards for moral behavior. The standards you set may be based on tradition, culture, religious beliefs or some combination. Regardless of its source, a standard is a measure by which we judge our actions. Standards can help young people make decisions about moral behavior long before the situation presents itself. Standards for moral behavior may address things like personal responsibility, sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, honesty, integrity, work, respect for others, fairness and many other things.
Standards help youth resist temptation.
For example, religious commitment is a factor in reducing undesirable behavior among youth, such as drug use and delinquency. Parental enforcement of standards likewise makes a difference. For instance, youth who are drug free are much more likely to have parents who strictly enforce rules about drugs and other behavior. Use reasoning, not force, to encourage compliance. We want to gain our children's voluntary compliance with moral standards and avoid a contest of wills.