THE 20th tip in the 31 days to becoming a better dad is to be consistent.

In order to establish routines for your children, you need to learn to be consistent in all areas of your parenting. One of the hardest things for children to do is toe the line between right and wrong in a home without consistency.

By creating routines in your own life, you will be that much closer to setting a consistent example in areas such as discipline, eating habits, work ethic, manners and personal hygiene. Your children will learn your habits and create consistent behaviors in their own lives, a quality that will allow them to make better decisions for themselves throughout their lives.

Consistency is also vitally important when dealing with two home families. Both parents need to agree on rules and acceptable behavior. By learning two sets of rules, you are not only pitting one parent against the other, you are teaching your child that they can act out of character in many situations. Don't fall for the good parent/bad parent trap, be consistent!

For more tips on being consistent, check out The Guiding Principles of Parenting, Caregiver Woes and An Acceptable Means of Discipline?.

DAD TALK