Consistency
Click to enlarge
When a rule is set and a boundary line drawn, then both parents must join forces to back each other up. If one parent undermines the other, then the child gets such a mixed message they quickly learn to ‘divide and conquer’! If one parent becomes the ‘soft touch’ then the child will direct more naughty behaviour in that direction, because he or she knows that nothing will come of it.
Good communication is the key between parents, so that if one partner has been out at work all day and the other parent has laid down a new law, they need to keep each other updated.
Previous: Routines | Next: Setting a good example