How to Use Picture Rules in the Hallway

Your #1 priority as a parent is to keep children safe. You are their Safekeeper! Picture Rules help everyone in the family keep it safe by showing children exactly what we want them to do in a given situation.

The right hemisphere of the brain is in charge of self-regulation. Because the right hemisphere processes information in images, it’s important to show children visual images of what acceptable behaviors look like.

Focus on safety when you create your rules and format them in the “do, do, don’t” style of the classroom Picture Rule Cards sold by Conscious Discipline. You will need two pictures of what is acceptable behavior and one picture of an unsafe behavior with a red line through it. On the staircase, the Bug Family’s Pictures Rules show 1) a photo of children walking down the steps, 2) a photo of children scooting down the steps on their backsides, and 3) a photo of children playing on the railing with a red line through it.

The more information we give children about our expectations, the more likely they are to cooperate, keep it safe and succeed.