Behavior Consequences for Kids

Raising kids is no joke.  We are all trying to be the most effective parents possible and as parents we can all agree that we want the same for our children.  Emotional and physical safety, connection, boundaries, patience, but what about virtues?  The one area of parenting many of us struggle with though is what age should we be expecting our child to mature enough to handle a value or virtue?  Such as kindness, honesty, fairness, responsibility etc.  How do we encourage it or reinforce it?

The solution…. a Behavior Consequence Chart for kids.

I’m thrilled to share with you Tim Smith’s Consequence Planner for Kids.

Not only will this offer guidance for parents with children age 1-18 year old, it may just be inspirational too.

I appreciate the ideas for positive and negative consequences that come with each age and responsibility.

Whether you agree with what is on the chart below or not, you may be like me and appreciate the guidance.   Don’t feel intimidated…  It’s a little like my Life Skills Chart,  I always feel like I’m about 2 years behind.   But I am happy to see there is something out there to guide me.

Using the Behavior Consequences Chart

A True Story!  For my eldest son’s 9th birthday he asked for a new privilege.  I think we’ve give him a new privilege on past birthdays but I can’t remember what they were now!  Mom Brain!

Check Your Privilege Chart!

I couldn’t think of anything, so I found my copy of the Consequence Planner.  It recommended self-control and getting up on time for school.

It was the night before his birthday and my husband came up with the brilliant idea to given my son an alarm clock…. but, it was too late to go to the store!  What to do?  We took the alarm clock right off my dresser and wrapped it up for him.  He never noticed!

Perfect gift and it fit right in with the age 9 virtue on the chart.  Win!

I Love My Kids But…

Consequence Chart from The Danger of Raising Nice Kids

Age of Child Value / Virtue   Behavior / Rule   Consequence Positive   Consequence Negative   1-2 Consideration Make requests with normal voice; don’t scream Parent will consider request Timeout and request not considered 2-3 Kindness Learn to share Will be able to use toys Loss of toy not shared for one day 3-4 Help Others Do one thing each day to help Mommy Will get to do big-kids tasks like set the table Loss of privilege (TV or videos) 4-5 Responsible use of one’s possessions Put away toys, don’t lose things Will be able to use school supplies Loss of crayons and scissors for 2 days 6-7 Honesty Tell the truth Trusted to play at friend’s house Can’t play at friend’s house 7-8 Fairness Make sure things are “even” Enjoy playing games and with friends Loss of a game or friend time 8-9 Obedience Listen carefully and follow instructions / rules Can choose how to spend free time Loss of free time = time out 9-10 Self-control Get up on time and get ready for school Can stay up until 8:30 p.m. Must go to bed at 7:30 p.m. 11-12 Decision Making Make wise choices with time and friends Freedom to make choices Loss of some of these choices 13-14 Responsibility Weekly clean room and do laundry (due Friday, 6:00 pm) Go out Friday night Can’t go out Friday night 15 Courage Develop / write personal standards regarding drinking, dating, and drugs Enjoy time with friends (unsupervised) Loss of free time, or time with friends will be supervised. 16 Discernment Alert to dangers in people and on the road Get to drive Loss of driving 17 Compassion Other-centered, not self-centered Choice of weekend activities Must spend Saturday serving others 18 Independence Self-reliant; contributes money to pay expenses Enjoy freedom and parents’ financial support Loss of parents’ financial support

From The Danger of Raising Nice Kids by Timothy Smith (IVP, (c) Timothy Smith 2006) Used with permission.

>>>>>>>>  Printable version click here <<<<<<<<<<

I asked for permission to use two charts from Tim Smith’s book, The Dangers of Raising Nice Kids.  The Consequence Planner (above) and The Countdown to Independence Chart.

They were the two documents I wanted to enlarge to poster size for my house!  I NEED the daily reminder of where I’m going and where I’ve been in parenting!

Recommended Parenting Books

If this book interests you, may I also suggest The Five Love Language and Boundaries with Children.

Thanks for stopping by!

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