Your Employee and Family Assistance Program is a support service that can help you take the first step toward change.
 

Parent-Child Contracts

One of our greatest challenges as parents is to teach our children how to be responsible individuals. Whether we are trying to teach younger children to put their toys away; encourage older children to participate in household chores; or ensure that teens get home safely and on time—the way we communicate our expectations can have a direct impact on the results.

Creating a parent-child contract can be one way we can encourage positive behaviour and discourage bad habits. 

A contract that is mutually developed and agreed on by parents and their children provides a way of outlining expectations as well as consequences or rewards. This process can be very satisfying for both the children and the parents. Here are some basic contract guidelines you can follow:

Tips on Teaching Your Children Responsibility at all Ages 

Children Under Five 

Verbal/Visual Contracts: You can demonstrate to younger children verbally and visually that you have limits and expectations for their behaviour.

School-Age Children (6-12) and Early Teens (13-16)

Written contracts:

Young Adults and Teens (17-20) 

Although the contract development process would be similar, the type of issues for agreement would obviously differ for teens and young adults. Contracts can be useful to establish and maintain curfews; to ensure that teens never accept a ride from anyone who has been drinking; to develop and stick with study/homework routines, etc.

What to remember when developing parent-child contracts with teens or young adults:

As you know, life is not always simple between parents and children. Though behaviour contracting takes time and commitment, it can yield great rewards in terms of stronger relationships and family harmony.
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