General Methods

1. Maintain a family schedule. This can give children the security of certain things that are predictable and the discipline of being sure that they are there when expected. Have a set breakfast time and a dinnertime. Have different times for different days if necessary, but put them up on some sort of poster and see if everyone can discipline themselves to be there during this month.

2. Teach by example. Create a personal example regarding the value of discipline and moderation in all areas. Again, example is the number-one method. Make up your mind, especially during this "month," to control your temper, to save a percentage of your income, to live within your means, to eat moderately, and so on.

3. Count to ten. Help children -- and yourself -- stay in tighter control of your tempers. There is no more obvious and noticeable illustration of discipline than in the control of temper. Teach your children the simple principle of counting to ten before saying or doing anything when they feel anger. Give some "bad examples" of people who hurt someone because they struck out (or spoke out) without stopping to think. Give some good examples of people who were about to say something angry or to hurt someone in some way and then thought better of it while counting to ten.

4. Use the words "discipline" and "moderation" frequently. This will help children understand them and "connect" them to everyday behavior. When you pass up a second helping of potatoes say, "I'm going to use moderation and not eat too much -- it will help my waistline." When you notice a child getting his homework done say, "There's discipline for you." Make the words the "theme" of your communications and your activities for the month.

5. Set up "deals." Add motivation to your child's efforts to discipline himself to accomplish goals. Having children set up certain objectives and attaching a reward to the accomplishment of those goals can give parents added opportunities for praise and can make children more conscious of consistently disciplining themselves to do things.

Sample Method for Elementary Age: The "Choose the M or the A" Game

This game teaches older elementary school children the fact that some things are okay in moderation but bad in excess -- while other things are bad in any quantity or form. Make up, on three plain sheets of paper, a large M for "moderation," a large A for "avoid" or "abstain," and a large N.L. for "no limit" (describe and define the words). Then explain that you are going to go through a list of things and you want them to pick one of the three signs for each of the items you are going to mention. Then go through the following list, adding items of your own and stopping to discuss or ask questions about any on which the answer is not clear.

Eating (M)
Taking Drugs (A)
Reading (NL)
Exercising (M)
Watching Television (M)
Caring for Others (NL)
Name-Calling (A)
Smiling (NL)
Drinking Alcohol (A or M -- your call)
Drinking Before Driving (A)
Playing at Friends' Houses (M)