Choices Affect Others Too

Teach them that their choices don’t just affect them but they also affect people around them.

Example: If one of my children chooses to continue to talk harshly to her siblings, then one consequence might be that she loses the privilege of playing with everyone that day and she has to be isolated in her room for a period of time. (But we must teach them through this. Meanness or harsh speaking hurts other people, creates a bad atmosphere in the house and teaches the younger siblings that it is acceptable behaviour.)

Their behaviour affects the world around them, not just them. These seem like small choices and consequences now, but if we can help them through these things, then hopefully it will equip them to better face the big choices they will have to make as an adolescent.