If the same behavior brings punishment today and laughter tomorrow, a child does not learn the rule.

If the same behavior brings punishment today and laughter tomorrow, a child does not learn the rule. They learn to predict an adult’s mood. Keep limits few, clear, and consistent. Explain consequences beforehand and follow through without humiliation. Consistency is not harshness. A predictable rule tells a child, “This world makes sense, and you are safe here.”