I think they are great but too generalized, be more specific: "Be Clean" washed up or toys put away or room...
Kids will find a way around the generalized rules.

how true bcas! If I tell them to clean up a certain area,, they will move stuff around and say "it's clean to me" LOL!!

Mine are the same KIT. I tell them to 'clean up' and they just push stuff under the couch and tv stand.

That's funny. I'm also writing out what each of the rules mean so we have them in detail. i.e. "Cleaning up" means we put the toys in the toy-chest and clothes in the hamper," etc. I'm also writing out school and summer schedules, explaining what is expected of them and at what times and what the consequences will be if there is resistance. It will be like a ruLes and regulations manual for the household. I'm having fun writing it! :)

good luck

I came here for support, bcas

I think having 2 schedules (school/summer) is a great idea but, what would the different rules be? not trying to dissuade you from doing it, just curious.

i tried posting rules several different times. Still no success for us. After rules were totally ignored, i tried a NO-NO list, and sticker charts for good behavior, but that was a flop too. Sorry i cant help more!

obey mom & dad pretty much covers everything in my opinion! LOL
We don't have rules posted but we have rules like: in our house we don't say shut up, in our house we don't say things to others to make them feel bad about who they are or what abilities they have, in our house we support each other and try to build each other up, in our house we work together to make our home a good place to be.... these are the things I find myself repeatig when a problem arises.
We do have a list of chores posted so the kids (12 & almost 7) know exactly what is expected from them, and I took about 3 weeks to teach them how to do the chore so the stuff wasn't just pushed around!

I think generalized rules are great. Putting too much detail into something will only lead to them finding loopholes. If rule #1 is obey mom and dad, then whatever you say goes. So, if they "move things around" and call it clean, but mom and dad don't, then it isn't really clean.

I don't see how you can find away around generalized rules. If I tell my kids to clean up and it isn't to my specifications, then it isn't clean. Kids get a general idea of what their parents consider clean after they've done it a few times.

General rules are better for younger kids because if they understand that the #1 thing is to obey mom and dad, then everything ultimately falls under that. In the past, we've had 5 general rules.

1. Obedience
2. Respect
3. Cleanliness
4. Honesty
5. Attitude

They were 5 words the kids could remember (instead of sentences) and we had a family meeting to explain what each meant. Obedience meant mom and dad are in charge. Respect meant respect for people and things. This means that we are respectful of each other in our words and actions. Cleanliness meant our bodies and our home. Honesty meant we tell the truth and are honest in our actions. Attitude meant being positive and helping other be happy.

My oldest kids are 8 and 10 now, so they have moved on to chore lists and we are in the process of teaching them how to do those chores properly so that there no excuses later that they didn't know how to do it.

I think the key is consistency. The simple act of my husband and I saying what each of those words meant didn't teach them. We had to lead them by OUR actions and SHOW them what it meant to be respectful, clean, etc.

I think keeping it simple is a great idea, hangin0n!