Boundaries are not walls or barriers.
They are established for protection and learning how to live life. Boundaries help your kids learn how to gain control of their own impulses.
Here are a few points on how to move your child towards ownership of her/his own growth.
The Plan
Come up with a structure that you will use for yourself and will present to the child. Include the following aspects and write them down.
- The Problem
- The Expectations
- The Consequences
Then follow theses steps.
1. Introduce the plan at a peaceful time.
2. Take a “for” stance instead of an “against” stance.
3. Present the problem. Be specific.
4. Present the expectations.
5. Present the consequences.
6. Negotiate what is negotiable.
7. Make expectations and consequences easily accessible.
And remember-The whole idea of a plan will fall apart if you are not personally functioning as the boundary for the child.
Taken from Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Published by Zondervan © 1998.
Boundaries with Kids may be purchased from our online store at http://astore.amazon.com/sfw-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=18
