Setting LimitsBy Emma and Tarne

What does setting limits mean?• Setting limits with kids means setting a guideline for behaviour

even when there is not an official household rule. • Setting limits is the process parents use to teach their rules,

standards and expectations for acceptable behaviour• Many parents interpret limit setting as “punishment” or

“praise” and rewards but the process is much more complicated.

Responsibilities are effectively achieved by• One of the parents responsibilities is to utilise tools to teach

their rules and expectations in the clearest most effective ways with children across the full spectrum of temperaments and learning styles.

• For example the most powerful way parents can teach cooperation and respect is to consistently role model this behaviour for their children. This parents’ positive example is the most effective lesson

Negative impacts on relationships

• When the family rules are not set out clearly and are vague then a child might not understand them very well, this has a negative impact as when they grow up they might think that what they are doing is right. For example; A parent not telling their child that hitting other people is wrong and the child grows up hitting everyone that is mean to them → this could get the child into trouble with the law

• If parents are too strict and do not let their children do anything then the child might get fed up and start to rebel against their parents rules and could start to resent their parents.

• When rules are set at certain ages for the children but vary for another child, this could cause conflict between the child and parents. For example; A 15 year old boy can go camping on the family farm with friends however when his sister turns 15 she is not allowed to go with her friends because the parents are scared for them being alone with fire without adults.