Explain Yourself Understanding that you're not being arbitrary doesn't always soothe kids' immediate sense of injustice (see sweatshirt anecdote, above), but walking them through your logic isn't a waste of breath, either. "It's a good way to stimulate their development and understanding of fairness," says Smetana. Try something like "The reason I let him stay up later than you is because younger kids need more sleep than older ones. When you're his age, you will be able to stay up until the same time." Reassure them that you've given the issue of fairness and their concerns a lot of thought. Myers suggests saying, "You have to realize that I treat everybody fairly, but I treat both of you differently depending on your needs." Eventually, they'll catch on.
