THE
12 SIGNS OF A HEALTHY - UNHEALTHY HOME CHECKLIST
by Diana Loomans © 2005
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Twelve
Signs of an Unhealthy, Inconsistent Environment |
Are you raising your child in an unhealthy, inconsistent
environment filled with chaos
and unpredictability? A child
who lives in an unreliable environment
with random rules,
or no rules at all becomes unruly and un-cooperative.
The following checklist will help
you to explore what areas of your home
environment most need improvement. Use the
list below to take an inventory
of your home, as well as the home you were raised in as a
child. Check
each of the signs that currently exist in your home;
| 1. |
_____
Meals served at random times, without sitting down to eat
together |
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| 2. |
_____
Non-nutritious snacks, sweets, and treats available anytime |
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|
| 3. |
_____
Erratic bedtime hours during the school week and weekends |
| |
|
| 4. |
_____
Curfew inappropriate to age (too early or too late), or
no curfew at all |
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|
| 5. |
_____
Household chores that are age inappropriate (too few or
too many) |
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|
| 6. |
_____
Clutter, chaos, junk, filth, or disorder in the home most
of the time |
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|
| 7. |
_____
Poor manners or disrespectful communication among family
members |
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|
| 8. |
_____
No regular homework time or accountability/follow-through
on homework |
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|
| 9. |
_____
No limits on the use of tv, telephone, the Internet, and
video games |
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|
| 10. |
_____
Sibling disrespect regarding feelings, needs, differences,
or privacy |
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|
| 11. |
_____
Quality time between parents and children irregular or nonexistent |
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|
| 12. |
_____
Unclear rules/agreements with random punishments or
no consequences |
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|
Each
of the twelve signs that you checked from the above list
is strong evidence that your
home environment needs improvement. Consider each one carefully and begin improving
one area at a time - starting with the one that is most needed, and progressing
from there. |
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Twelve
Signs of a Healthy, Consistent Environment |
Are you raising
your child in a healthy, consistent environment with serenity
and
stability?
A child who lives in a reliable environment with fair rules
that are understood
by all learns to be a balanced, cooperative child.
Use the following checklist to take an
inventory of your home, as well as
the
home you were raised in as a child. Check each of
the signs that currently
exist in your home;
| 1. |
_____
Nutritious meals served at scheduled times, often shared as a family |
| |
|
| 2. |
_____ Nutritious snacks
with limits on sweets and treats |
| |
|
| 3. |
_____ Regular bedtime
hours, especially during the school week |
| |
|
| 4. |
_____ Curfew on weeknights
and weekends appropriate to age |
| |
|
| 5. |
_____ Consistent household
chores that are age appropriate |
| |
|
| 6. |
_____ Reasonable cleanliness
and order kept in the home most of the time |
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|
| 7. |
_____ Respectful manners & positive
communication among family members |
| |
|
| 8. |
_____ Homework or
chores completed on schedule with good follow-through |
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|
| 9. |
_____ Reasonable limits
on television, telephone, the Internet, or video games |
| |
|
| 10. |
_____ Sibling respect
regarding feelings, needs, differences, and privacy |
| |
|
| 11. |
_____ Quality time
with parents and the family as a whole on a regular basis |
| |
|
| 12. |
_____ Clear rules
and agreements established with fair, natural consequences |
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|
Each of the twelve signs that you checked from the above list is wonderful
progress
toward creating a harmonious home. Keep up the consistent efforts.
Each of the signs
that you did not check is an area that is calling for your
attention and care as a parent.
Cultivate one new area at a time, and stay
with it until the entire family has established it
as a new habit.
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From
the book, What All Children Want Their Parents to Know: 12
Keys to Raising
a Happy Child by Diana Loomans & Julia Godoy © 2005 New World Library |
For more information about this book, visit www.whatallchildrenwant.com
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