Make sure your child learns that actions have consequences. Whenever possible, use logical consequences -- in other words, let your children see the results of actions. If you forget your lunch, you go hungry that day, if you finish homework, you can watch a television program. Talk about how all choices have consequences, for example: "I chose to get up 15 minutes late. The result was that I missed breakfast ... and nearly missed the bus". Don't make it easy to forget. If your child has forgotten homework, don't drive her to school to retrieve it. If he's lost a soccer ball, don't rush out to buy another one.

Consider giving your children an allowance or some way to earn a little money regularly - large enough to buy small treats, but small enough to encourage them to save for something special.

Help your children see that they have a responsibility to the community at large. Choose a way your family can show its responsibility, for example you might take food to a local food bank. Be a model of responsibility yourself by setting aside time to volunteer or to vote in the next election.

As often as possible, let your child make choices, before choices about drug use or sexuality appear. For example, whether to do homework right after school or after dinner, whether to play soccer or basketball, which vegetable the family will eat for dinner.

(Taken from the "Parent Resource Binder: The Essential Link", published by the Newfoundland and Labrador Home and School Federation, p. 32).

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