Phil -“First of all, I don’t believe that kids under eleven years of age can be held accountable to know the time when they are expected in the house if all the kids are playing outside…”
Why not? A lot of kids start learning how to tell time at 4 or 5. Most will know by 8 or 9. If they come in once in awhile to cool off or to get a drink, then they have to check the time, like my kids did. If they don’t come in at all, you can buy them a wrist watch. Some are less than $10. If your 10 year old doesn’t know how to tell time, you can buy them an alarm watch and you set it to the time they must come in. This will teach them responsibilty. Of course raising children is full of challenges, but with thinking it through, these can be overcome. People shouldn’t throw their hands up in the air and say “I can’t”!