What Makes a Rule Stick

The rules kids actually follow tend to share five traits:

• Short — "We speak kindly" beats a sentence nobody can recite
• Positive — "Hands are for helping" instead of "No hitting"
• Few — a small handful, so the whole list fits in one breath
• For everyone — parents included; if you slip, you own it out loud
• Tied to a value — "We tell the truth" links to honesty, not random control

The strongest ones are umbrella rules. "We treat each other with respect" quietly covers hitting, name-calling, and interrupting all at once.