Is important that children respect and follow rules. It may not be in vogue but there are still reasons for teaching children and students to follow rules.
Rules are everywhere. They follow all of us everyday; in sports, at school, at work, and in our communities. Rules and procedures need to be consistent in a world that constantly changes.Rules, in a broad sense, regulate unwanted or harmful behavior. They dictate the values of our culture and society. They prevent chaos and encourage uniformity.
When raising children, rules become valuable. Rules ultimately enable children to function in the outside world. Rules provide security.
School rules are in the best interest of our students. They are in each school, cafeteria, classroom, in play areas, and on the school bus. They may be slightly different for each area, but basically have the same message and content. Rules develop respect for people and property. They teach students the difference between right and wrong so students can make decisions that will eventually benefit society.
In school, rules are no different than any other instructional activity. They are taught and reinforced so they are remembered and followed. This benefits our schools because:
• Students know what to expect,
• Classes run smoothly,
• Everyone has a clear sense of what they need to perform their best,
• And, children develop self-discipline.
A study from the University of California suggest the rules the children break are most likely to be the ones that need broken. Such rules may be justified by being broken. A rule that restricts a person from independence or freedom may have a cause to be ignored. According to researcher Kristin Hansen Lagattuta, “Children learn to identify situations where there may be legitimate grounds for disobeying.”
Kristin also states “Over-regulation of the child’s personal domain may be psychologically harmful in that the adult not only restricts the child’s ability to express him or herself, but also evaluates that aspect of the child’s identity as immoral or unworthy.”
It is parents’ and educators’ responsibility to give children and students the skills and confidence to know when and how to question the rules.
In lieu of creating dependent thinkers, children need to obey rules that are associated with moral respect. They prepare students and children for the real world. They teach socialization and provide a sense of order. Establishing and enforcing rules is a labor of love that helps children have a sense of cooperation and acceptance. This teaches responsibility and nurtures independence.
