Follow Through

Being Consistent
One way for a parent to lose a child’s trust is to say one thing and do another. When parents inform a child of a specific consequence that will result from a specific behavior, and do not follow through, it is likely that the child will test other limits to find out whether they will produce similar results. When parents are clear and consistent, avoiding empty threats and following through with the consequences that they have set for (and with) the child, there will be a lower amount of boundary-testing, and a higher level of trust.

Being Realistic
If a child is continuing to break a limit, regardless of the consequences, it may be appropriate to reevaluate the limit, and whether it is something that the child can realistically comply with. Certain limits will change as the child gets older (curfew, dating, etc.) and will need to be renegotiated as time passes. Consequences may need to change as well. For example, while time outs may be effective disciplinary tools with young children, they become inappropriate when a child reaches a certain age.