Be kind but firm. “I know you love staying up late with mommy and daddy, but that’s not allowed on school nights anymore. We’re going to start getting you ready for bed at 8 o’clock.” “No yelling at your brother when you get upset. You’re a big boy and when big boys are angry they explain what they’re angry about without shouting.” Stick to the rules, even when you start to change your mind. “I said no jumping on the bed, and that means no jumping on the bed.” “Nope, no sweets after 7:30, not even on holidays.” Clearly state the consequences if they disobey. “If you try to sneak treats when I said no, you’re not going to get dessert for a week.” “If you skip your chores, that means you have extra for another week.” Use humor when you can. “Look, the toothbrush is saying, ‘put me away so I stay nice and clean!’ See, it’s important to clean up your bathroom when you’re done!” “Our puppy wouldn’t like it if you stepped on his tail, would he? He’d probably bark and try to say, ‘ow, that hurts!’ Well, it’s the same with your sister. If you slap or kick her, it really hurts her. No more doing that.”