Behavior Contracts

What Can They Do for You?

An Interview with Mark Kichler, President of KidsContracts, Inc.

By Shel Franco

You thought the "terrible twos" were bad. Now there's dating, driving, drugs, alcohol, chores, grades and a whole slew of other issues waiting to ambush you as a parent. Besides begging and pleading, what can you do to keep your child safe and happy?

A growing number of professionals and parents are turning to behavior contracts as a clear means for relaying what is expected from preteens and teens. Mark Kichler, a father and the president of KidsContracts, Inc., shares his views on why behavior contracts just might be the answer to some of parenting's most trying moments.

MK: Behavior contracts are one of the simplest but most overlooked techniques available to help parents through the difficult preteen and teenage years. When used properly, written contracts can be incredibly successful in preventing or stopping unwanted behavior. Parents need to sit down and decide what the rules are going to be and what discipline will be enforced if those rules are broken.

It is critical that the rules and any consequences are written in easy-to-understand language. Once parents are satisfied with their written contracts, they need to sit down with their children and read each rule and consequence. Parents need to be ready to listen to their kids' concerns with the agreements and make any changes that are appropriate.

Once the parents and kids have agreed upon changes and a final agreement is written, parents and their children must

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