Family Home Rules Contract Template (Page 4 of 9) in pdf

Yet many people want to deprive children of spanking, even though the most sound research suggests it

is not harmful, and is often more helpful than other common discipline methods.

On average, spanking

seems to reduce aggression, defiance, and antisocial behavior better than mental punishments like

timeout, reasoning, privilege removal, threats, verbal power assertion, ignoring, love withdrawal, or

diverting.

#17. See, e.g., Larzelere, Meta-Analysis, supra note 15, at 4 (surveying every child discipline study

between 1979 and 2005 that analyzed: (1) spanking and at least one mental discipline tactic using similar

research methods; (2) children that were, on average, less than thirteen years old when disciplined; and

(3) at least one child outcome. This meta-analysis compares outcomes of physical and mental discipline

methods, and finds that outcomes rarely favor mental discipline methods, whereas customary spanking

typically reduces noncompliance or antisocial behavior more than mental discipline methods);

#18. See, e.g., Larzelere, Meta-Analysis, supra note 15, at 20 tbl. IV, 22 tbl. V, 24 tbl. VI (showing

spanking to be better at controlling aggression than mental punishments like timeout, reasoning, scolding,

“non-contact” punishment, privilege removal, love withdrawal, or diverting. Also showing that calm and

controlled spanking and spanking in response to defiance is uniformly more beneficial than other

punishments);

The Law of Reinforcement, “Behavior which achieves desirable consequences will recur.”

(this is not used to combat defiance, but rather to increase your child’s level of responsibility)

Specific Principles to maximize the benefit of this Law:

1. Rewards must be granted immediately.

• Children have neither the mental capacity nor the maturity to keep a long-range goal in mind.

• Parents complain about lack of industriousness in children, without recognizing that this is a

learned behavior. The child repeats the behavior which he considers to have been successful.

• A child may be cooperative and helpful because he enjoys the effect it has on his parents.

Another may sulk and pout for the same reason.

Chore Chart (beginning around age 4, but can be modified for increased age or maturity).

a. Create a chart with responsibilities/behaviors you want to instill.

b. Immediate Reinforcement is Key. Each evening colored dots or stars should be placed

by the responsibilities/behaviors that were done satisfactorily.

c. A penny/nickel should also be given for each item done satisfactorily in the day; if more

than 3 items are missed in one day, no pennies/nickels should be given.

d. Begin teaching financial stewardship. Give a tithe/offering. Savings. Spending money.

e. Once child masters a chore/behavior, remove it and add something else.

f. Suggested “Chores/Responsibilities/Behaviors”:

• Brush teeth without being told

• Straitened room before bedtime

• Picked up clothes without being told

• Emptied trash without being told

• Minded Mommy today

• Minded Daddy today

• Said my prayers tonight

• Was kind to my brother/sister today

• Took my vitamin

• Said “Thank you” and “Please” today

• Went to bed last night without complaining

• Gave clean water to dog today

• Washed my hands and came to the table when called

Read p. 57

Family Home Rules Contract Template Page 4

Related Articles

Related forms

Related Categories