Do you know the difference between guidelines and rules? Often times we expect our children to follow guidelines: Be Kind, Be Helpful, Be Respectful, Be Responsible.
Guidelines are difficult to follow because they do not tell us what to do.
Guidelines create a framework for behavior but do not bring a specific behavior to mind! They are not universally translated in the same way.
Guidelines are Umbrellas of Behavior - many things fit under the umbrella.
Use this driving analogy...
Guideline = Drive Carefully
Rule = Speed Limit 45
Rules are clearly stated actions that fit under the Guidelines.
The Guideline of Be Kind can be followed by the Rules of:
- Say please and thank you
- Wait your turn
- Do not laugh when someone trips or falls
- Do not laugh or make a negative comment when someone makes a mistake
- Only call people by their name
From the above example you can see that Kind can be shown in a lot of very specific ways. In the next posting we will discuss how to come up with the rules that support the guidelines.
Have a question? Reach out today - it's the best day to chart a new course.