A parent’s experience is the biggest teaching tool for children. No one is born with life knowledge. We can learn and understand things from books or advice from qualified persons. These 10 commandments for parents are adapted from others as well as this handy father’s experience as a parent of 3 children.

10 commandments for parents are listed below:

1. Do not underestimate your child – Children can understand more than you think.  Challenge your kids to use their minds.  You’ll be surprised what they will accomplish.
2. Don’t threaten without follow through – A big part of child development is learning the consequences of actions.  If you don’t instill that fear of consequences to actions, you’re setting yourself up for a world of hurt.
3. Do not bribe your child – Bribing your child with a prize for desired behavior is not the way to go.  If a child expect to be rewarded for everyday tasks like housework and chores, they will be less likely to keep up with these things as adults.  Some tasks are done just because you’re part of the family, not because there is a prize coming.
4. Do not make a small child promise to uphold rules – Small children won’t hold to a promise. You’ll make a liar of your child if make them promise not to do something.  Instead, when a rule is broken, explain to them that what they did was wrong and punish them according to the severity of the rule broken.
5. Do not keep children under a short leash – Give your children enough space to make mistakes, as learning from mistakes is more beneficial than being told “No, No, No.” all the time.
6. Get to the point when you are talking to your child – Keep your ideas simple and concise so he can understand every thing you have to say. The attention span of a child is not such that you can lecture them for long periods of time.  You’ll find more success with direct, to the point words.
7. Do not expect an immediate and blind obedience – You can ask for obedience, but expecting immediate and blind obedience is unrealistic.  Try utilizing a system where action is required within 10 minutes for certain tasks, like cleaning a room, or doing dishes.
8. Do not indulge children too much – Your children should not get what they want all the time.  Learning to accept a “no” answer is an important part of life.
9. Don’t impose rules unreasonable to the age of your child. – Expecting a 3 year old to put away their own laundry on hangars might be too difficult a task.  Expecting your teenager to be in bed by 9 is equally unrealistic.  Base your rules on the capabilities of your children, but don’t forget commandment number 1.
   
10. Don’t give your child orders that you don’t take seriously – Your child will try to please you.  Don’t ask your children to do something just to see if they will. The edification of your children is of the utmost importance.

All of these 10 commandments for parents are simplified guidelines. They can be used by teachers and educators as well. Along with the parents, they will settle upon an attitude and strategy for the education and growth of the child, so that they can give him all the things he needs to properly develop emotionally and physically.

These 10 commandments for parents are not “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” for raising children. In this handy father’s experience, these commandments are valuable and will help as general guidelines.

Do you have another commandment that should be added to this list?  Do you disagree with any of these commandments?  Comment below, and let HandyFather.com know!