Family Rules...for a 5 Year Old

In our house, we have one "rule" per year for our children. So, my 2 year old has 2 rules; 4 year old has 4.

The first two for both of them are:

1. Listen to mama and daddy (pretty much covers everything! lol)
2. Treat people the way you want to be treated

Then the additional ones are

3. We take care of our house and belongings
4. We follow the rules outside of the house too (ie at school).

With my daughters, I find that if they're misbehaving I just ask them to repeat the rule they're breaking back to me. Then I ask if they're following that rule. When they say 'no', I say 'well, let's try again'. And they're usually pretty quick to correct their behaviour. Of course, I realize this may not work with every child, but it's a place to start.

We also have sub-rules (like no running in the house, no eating in the livingroom), but those fall under the 'listen to mama and daddy rule' :o)

As for discipline, we use time-outs modeled after the Supernanny method. I've also learned that maintaining MY cool helps to keep the situation from getting too intense. My oldest daughter is JUST like me (demanding, stubborn, sassy know-it-all), so we butt heads a LOT, but I'm definitely getting better at remembering that it takes 2 to argue and I'M the adult!! Hahahaha, hopefully by the time she's 12 I'll be a totally zen mama ;o)

I'm a big Super Nanny fan. Here's a book you might like:
http://childcare.about.com/od/generaladvice/gr/supernanny...

No screaming, no pouting when asked to do something or didn't get what you want, ask before you take, be nice to your brother, eat slowly, pick up your toys, put away your plate when done eating.

I encourage a lot and reward for good behavior that I hardly see them do the bad ones

In order to have successful 'discipline' per the child's age, the 'expectations' of the parent has to be in line with, the child's cognition and age.
And, coping-skills and problem-solving, also go hand in hand, with discipline.
A kid, is not automatically born with these abilities. It is taught.
Some adults do not even have coping-skills for frustrations/difficulties and do not 'behave' either. For example.

Coping-skills and problem-solving ability, is also integral, to discipline. Because it teaches them HOW to behave, in another manner. Which they have to deduce and think of.
These skills, are taught.

Then there is a child's Brain development, and how it also impacts how and when and what age a children learns things best. Developmentally.
Left brain is more lateral in thinking. Right brain more creative and sensory in thinking.

So discipline is a combination, of things. And per the age of the child.

For my kids, Discipline means, of course knowing 'rules.' But, we also, explain to them the how come/why's of things. It is not just because "we say so" kind of thing. We try to teach them, the skills to 'discern' things/people/situations and by examples. Because, that is what life is full of. And so that, once they are outside the home, they can then 'evaluate'... what is right/wrong, good/bad, proper/inappropriate. Thus, their conduct, has a deeper frame of reference. And they know WHY, there are rules. And how to then, behave. Even beyond the family and outside the family.

Keep it simple...
Respect yourself (eat well, don't bite your nails...)
Respect others (listen, don't hit...)
Respect the environment (don't jump on the sofa, pick up your toys...)
Pretty much anything goes under those 3!

I like "love and logic". Good luck!