How to set positive boundaries with your kids during this summer in Oklahoma

Summer can bring fun and freedom for families, but the lack of structure can also create stress for parents and children alike. Betty Casey, editor of Folsom Kids Magazine, says summer is actually the perfect time to reinforce positive parenting and set healthy, effective boundaries.

Start With Simple Rules Kids Can Follow

Casey recommends keeping rules minimal but meaningful, focused on safety, respect, and the environment.

“You want them to be easy to follow and necessary,” she said. “For example, we keep the sand in the sandbox, it's simple and direct.”

She reminds parents that children don’t have fully developed memory skills yet, so repeating the rules consistently is key. “They’re not ignoring you. Their brains are developing. You are helping them learn.”

Consistency Builds Confidence and Safety

While it may be tempting to let things slide on tough days, Casey stresses the importance of staying consistent. “Don’t change with your mood. Don’t change on a whim,” she said.

According to Casey, children thrive on structure, even if they protest it in the moment.

“If you're creating those boundaries and they know where they are, then your child is going to be a more confident child,” she said. “We all feel better when we know what to expect - children are just like us.”

Use Natural Consequences With Kindness

When a child breaks a boundary, Casey suggests calmly following through with a natural consequence.

“If you’ve told them we keep the sand in the sandbox, and they continue to throw it, you remove them and say, ‘We’re going to go play somewhere else because you were not following this rule.’”

Natural consequences, when paired with kindness, are more effective than punishment, she said.