Household Rules Teaching Tool
This is a more complete list of rules to be reviewed and discussed one per night at dinner.
Love God and Love others (Matt. 22:37-39, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”)
Obey the first time (Col. 3:20, Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.)
Do nice things for others (Gal. 5:13b, Serve one another in love. Gal. 6:10, Let us do good to all people. Heb. 13:16, Don’t forget to do good and to share with others.)
Have a happy attitude (Eph. 5:19-20, Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the father for everything. 1Thes. 5:16-18, Be joyful always ... for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.)
Be happy when good happens to others (1 Cor. 12:26b, If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.)
Do not hurt (Rom. 12:17, Do not repay anyone evil for evil.)
Do Care about someone when they are hurt (1Cor. 12:26a, If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.)
Do not take (Eph. 4:28, He who has been stealing must no longer steal, but share.)
Let others go first / Share (Phil. 2:3-4, Do nothing out of selfishness but think of others as better than yourself, don’t only think about your needs but think about the needs of others.)
Do not lie (Col. 3:9, Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self.)
Do not whine (Phil. 2:14, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you can be blameless and pure children of God.)
Do Wait patiently (Gal. 5:22, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace and patience; 1 Cor. 13:4a Love is patient, love is kind.)
Do not yell (1 Cor. 13:4a and 5b, Love is not easily angered. Eph. 4:26, In your anger do not sin)
Say nice things (Eph. 4:29 and 5:19, Say only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs and speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.)
Do not say hurtful words (James 3:9-10, With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.)
Do not leave a mess (Phil. 2:4, Don’t only think about your needs, but think about the needs of others. 1 Cor. 12:27, Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.)
Do Clean up after yourself (2 Thes. 3:10 If a man will not work he shall not eat.)
Do not interrupt when adults are talking or on the phone, use the “interrupt rule” (1 Cor. 13:4-5, Love is not rude.)
This is an example of a more concise set of house rules to be posted in a home with small children.
The ______Family Rules
- Love God and Love others
- Obey the first time
- Do not hurt (use your words or get a grown up)
- To not take
- Do not lie
- Do not argue with Mom or Dad
- Do not whine
- Do not yell at others
- Do not say hurtful words
- If you get something out, put it away when you are done
How to stop a fight
1. If someone is doing something you don’t like, tell them to “stop” in a nice voice. Or, if the fight is about a toy or game, agree on a way to take turns. Set a timer and do rock-paper-scissors to see who goes first.
2. If they don’t listen, tell them if they do it again you will have to get an adult.
3. If they still don’t listen, get an adult.