Family Rules For Homeschooling Success

Homeschooling requires a lot of discipline, both on the part of the parents and the children. If you make discipline a part of the child's every day life, the discipline of school work will come naturally. All children need to have certain boundaries set. There should be a clear understanding of what is expected. The key to discipline is consistency.

I have included our family rules to be used as a guide. This is only a guide as every family is different. These rules are just as much for parents as for children. A good example is the best form of instruction! Obviously, preschool children are not capable of reading and understanding these rules; but by setting a good example and living by these rules yourself, the children will pick up what is expected of them.

We have found materials from Doorposts to be especially helpful in the area of discipline.

1. God’s Word is our final authority on discipline and all other matters concerning this household.

2. We obey God: We show our obedience to God by actively participating in our family devotions, Bible study and prayer time. We are faithful with our attendance and involvement with our church. We actively participate in Christian service projects and we witness to the unsaved by our actions and deeds. We obey all of God's laws and commandments.

3. We obey our parents: We do as we are told, when we are told, without arguing or complaining. We respect and honor our parents as God has commanded.

4. We are polite: We say please, thank you, your welcome, excuse me and yes/no sir/ma'am. We do not interrupt when others are talking.

5. We clean up after ourselves: We make our beds and keep our rooms and personal belongings picked up. We are responsible for cleaning up any mess we make.

6. We are responsible for helping around the house: We understand that every family member has duties and responsibilities and we do our assigned chores cheerfully, without complaining.

7. We do not make any unnecessary work for others: When we open something, we close it; when we turn something on, we turn it off; when we take something out, we put it away.

8. We keep ourselves neat and clean: We are responsible for bathing, dressing, brushing our teeth and brushing our hair. We wash our hands after using the bathroom and before we eat our meals.

9. We take good care of everything God has given us: We are thankful for what we have and we waste nothing.

10. We do not borrow anything from anyone without asking their permission first, and we take good care of their property as if it was our own.

11. We share whatever we have with one another.

12. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another: We do not yell and we do not call each other names.

13. We respect each other‘s privacy: We knock on closed doors and wait for permission before entering. We do not read other's private writings and we do not snoop in other's belongings.

14. We are modest: We dress modestly. We keep the bedroom door closed when undressing/dressing. We keep the door closed when we are in the bathroom.

15. We support each other: When someone needs correction, we correct him in love; when someone is sorry, we forgive him; when someone is sad, we comfort him; when someone is happy, we rejoice with him.

16. If we are not sure what to do in a given situation, we ask.

17. We tell the truth.

18. When we go out of this house, we act just as if we were in this house: We are to always conduct ourselves in a Christ-like manner as a witness to all who come in contact with us.

19. When we disobey or forget any of the rules, we accept the discipline and instruction given by our parents in accordance with God’s Word. h