Tips for Setting Consequences
- When possible, the consequence should relate to the undesirable behavior
Behavior: Jack's curfew is 10:00pm. He stays out 1 hour past his curfew without getting permission.
Consequence: Jack must now be home by 9:00pm (1 hour less than his normal curfew)
- The consequence you choose needs to be realistic
Example: Jack's curfew is 10:00pm. He stays out 1 hour past his curfew without getting permission. You are
frustrated with Jack so you ground him for a year. Is this realistic? Is the consequence too severe?
- Allow your teen to work toward earning privileges or possessions back
Example: If Jack abides by the new 9:00pm curfew for 2 weeks without any further issues, he can work his way
back up to the 10:00pm curfew
- You must be committed to following through on the consequences. If you have a history of not enforcing consequences, the misbehavior will likely continue
- Include your teen in deciding what a reasonable consequence for a certain misbehavior will be (see "contracts" below)
Creating a Contract With Your Teen
Negotiations don't have to be like this
What is a behavior contract?
It is a written document that details rules and responsibilities and the consequences and privileges involved. The content is agreed upon by ever
Why create a behavior contract?
Behavior contracts set the tone for the family. Contracts make rules and guidelines clear for ALL family members and you can always refer back to it. These plans foster trust, honesty and respect because everyone has input into the content. It will provide structure and consistency in your parenting practices.
Tips for Creating a Contract pdf
