What are your rules?

[Lexiejack]

I'm being nosey basically lol just curious as what rules people have at home for their kids and what chores yours do and what age they were when they started doing them

I have a DD aged 4 and a DS aged 2.
They are not allowed to watch any TV until at least 4pm.
They are in bed by 7:00pm, unless there's some reason for a late night.
They are not allowed into my bed until at least 6:00am.
They (should) help me tidy up their toys.
They (should) take their own dishes into the kitchen after eating.
Meals are what I provide. I don't make alternative dishes for them if they decide to be fussy.
I don't allow them to play with sticks and I tend to stop other dangerous games as they come up.

Other than that, the rules are common sense and laid down according to the situation.

I have 2 DC - DD - 4, and DS 18m

No climbing in the window (DS)
No throwing toys in the toilet (DS)
If you are driving me mad... stop it

Take dirty clothes to laundry bin (DD)
Take cups / plates to kitchen (DD) / Bring me finished cup (DS)
Bed by 7
Up when my alarm goes off - NOT before (play quietly in room if up before then)
Meals are get what your given unless a 'picnicky treat'... obviously within reason I take preferences into account... ie - DS would get more meat, DD more carbs
Both have to tidy up before bed (DS quite likes putting things away)

Good question ... we could all learn new ones to use lol. We've had lots of different ones over the last couple of years (my son is almost 6) and most of ours have been written down and pinned up at some stage. Following some parental advice (and courses etc) we tried to make them positive so instead of saying what not to do we say what we want them to do such as:

Kinds hands / talking (rather than no hitting or biting etc)
Dry Pants (instead of No wetting pants)

Other rules we have include:

My son is not allowed downstairs on his own just yet in the morning, he has to wait for one of us to get up with him.
We are trying to enforce a new rule at the moment where he is not allowed in our room until 7am on the weekend (he is an early riser).
He only has TV at bedtime (in his room) on Friday and Saturday nights.
No TV or playing in the morning before ready for school (once he is dressed etc he can play or watch TV for the reminder of the time left).
He must ask to leave the table after eating.

Im sure there are plenty more :) We're very big on manners too so lots of Please and Thank You in our house.

Star xx

Rules have changed according to their age. When they were little we had a rule, "Pants must be worn at dinner." Don't need that one any more, ha ha .

Do what you're told, when you're told, the first time you're told

Covers most of it for me

Rules for DP are : two cups of coffee in the morning to the side of the bed and the only answer allowed to a question is yes dear.

Again, covers most situations.

Lol im taking notes!! So far our biggest is no biting/hitting/headbutting and 2 yr old says or at least signs please, thank you, excuse me, pardon me. Had a moment in tesco earlier when he was in the trolley and shouted just move at the lady blocking the aisle (no idea where he heard that )
Big fan of the naughty mat as well (I am anyway kids not so much!!)
And our newest rule is porridge must be eaten with a spoon after 13month old DD stuck her face in the bowl this morning lol

Ha ha, Lexiejack, face in the bowl. I remember the eat-yoghurt-with-your-fingers-given-half-a-chance phase! You wouldn't think you'd need a rule for this stuff!

DS is 22m, rules are..
no eating sand/grass/sticks/mud/rocks/insects
no hitting/throwing/biting
please and thank you/ta
help with tidying up/dusting/putting washing out etc (this is fun to him atm!)
meals are what I've made
bathed and ready for stories at 7.15

Dd is 3.5

We have an only food and drink in your mouth rule. Dirty clothes us laundry basket, shoes in shoe box, sit properly to eat. Oh and I don't do whining - big girl voice please!