Rule Enforcement Quiz

Living with rules is a matter of practice. Consider the scenarios below.

1. The Rule: Keisha must be in bed by 8 o'clock. When you ask her to start getting ready for bed at 7:45, she says that she wants to finish the game she’s playing with her brother.
   
   What would you do?
   
   
   a. Tell her that’s fine, but you expect her to be in bed no later than 8:15.
   b. Tell her that it takes 15 minutes to get ready for bed, so she had better stop playing and start now.
   c. Remind her that bedtime is 8 o'clock sharp, but that you’ll help her and her brother save the game so they can finish it tomorrow.

 

2. The Rule: Carlos cannot play ball in the house. When you walk inside, you see a ball and a broken lamp in the living room. You are really angry.
   
   What would you do?
   
   
   a. Yell at Carlos to go directly to his room and stay there until you say he can come out.
   b. Tell Carlos that you know the agreed-upon consequence is that you decide the times Carlos can play with the ball. This time, however, Carlos also broke a lamp, so the consequence changes and he cannot play with the ball at all.
   c. Give yourself a cooling off period. Then, find out what happened. Talk to Carlos about the consequences of playing ball in the house and of breaking a lamp. First, as agreed, for the next week you’ll be in charge of the ball and Carlos can use it only when you say. Second, Carlos will help you clean up the broken lamp.

 

3. The Rule: Adam cannot play in the backyard by himself. Today is Adam’s birthday. He is 6 and he wants to take the new remote control car out into the yard and play. You’re too busy to go with him.
   
   What would you do?
   
   
   a. Tell Adam, "Don’t whine. You know the rules."
   b. Tell Adam that rules are rules, even if it is his birthday.
   c. Talk to Adam about the rules the two of you have set together. Discuss whether he’s become responsible enough to have some of the rules changed now that he is 6 years old.