Enforcing rules can often feel overwhelming for both parents and children. However, experts agree that there are some parenting rules that should be non-negotiable.
“Boundaries can feel like the hardest part of parenting,” clinical psychologist Michelle Chung, Psy.D., co-founder of the non-profit organization The Modern Approach to Parenting, told HuffPost. “We want our kids to feel trusted, capable, and free. We also want them to be safe, rested and emotionally well — and these goals don’t always coexist comfortably.”
Parents enforce rules for a variety of reasons, and some are stricter than others for good reason. Here are four non-negotiable parenting rules experts say parents should never waver on, even if they are considered “too strict.”
No electronics in the bedroom at night.
Many adults are guilty of taking their phones to bed, whether reading the news or scrolling through TikTok well past bedtime. While this habit can be disruptive for adults, it can be even more harmful for children, affecting both their sleep schedules and overall mental health.
“Even adults struggle to put the phone down when we’re tired, bored, or stressed,” said Chung. “For kids and teens, whose brains are still developing the ability to regulate impulses and emotions, that tiny glowing screen can become the boss of their attention, their social world and their sleep.”
Chung continued, “Protecting their nights means protecting their mental health. It’s saying ‘I know rest is the foundation for everything you dream of doing — and I’m going to help you guard it.’ ”
Everyone does chores. No exceptions.
Requiring children to do chores isn’t just about keeping the house in order. Assigning age-appropriate tasks and ensuring they are completed helps teach responsibility, confidence, and long-term life skills.
“When kids contribute to the running of the home, they learn that they are capable, needed and responsible for more than their own comfort, Robyn Koslowitz, Ph.D., a clinical child psychologist and author of “Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle, Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be,” told HuffPost.
She added that enforcing chore time, helps to combat the “everything is about me” mindset.
Homework comes before screens.
This is a perfect rule for parents to enforce the “work before play” mantra.
“This rule teaches follow-through, planning and the ability to delay gratification,” explained Emily Greenberg, co-founder, president and parenting coach at the Joy Parenting Club. “It removes daily bargaining battles and supports the long-term skill of managing responsibilities before distractions.”
Greenberg added, “The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping kids build habits that make life easier for their future selves.”
Letting parents or adults know where you’re going
This rule is geared more toward older children. Ensuring kids communicate their plans before leaving the house is considered an essential safety measure.
“This rule helps kids learn the lifelong skill of communicating their whereabouts. It reinforces that safety is a shared responsibility and teaches kids to pause and check in before making independent decisions,” explained Greenberg.
She concluded, “Developmentally, kids feel more confident exploring when they know the adults in their world are tuned in and paying attention.”
To read a few more of the experts’ non-negotiable rules, click here.
