Letters to My Granddaughter: 55 More Lessons

[March 12, 2026]  One of the greatest lessons we can learn as kids is to know what the rules are. Whether it’s the rules at home, in a game, at school, or simply how to play fairly with friends, following them makes our lives easier and better. This letter to my granddaughter shares 55 more lessons for being a kid, and following them is the true secret to life.

However, knowing the rules isn’t always easy. As a kid, I quickly discovered that many rules of life weren’t printed on paper or written in books. They were often cryptic, vague, misleading, or hidden. Discovering them was hard, and I could never figure out why.

I also wondered why rules existed in the first place. I eventually realized my wondering was irrelevant. These rules I tried so hard to avoid have been part of human existence since humans first walked the earth. They exist simply because they work.

This means kids should seek to uncover rules and learn to apply them. For kids, understanding why rules work is secondary to knowing them, applying them, and deviating only when aware of the high cost of breaking them. As adults, we’ll learn why they work.

The implication is that even if you follow the rules, there’s no guarantee things will work out to your advantage.

A year ago, I wrote 55 rules for kids.  It’s a good list; no, it’s a great list to follow.  Today, I’ll be listing another 55 rules:

1. Stand tall like an oak tree, no slouching!
2. Take your medicine like a good pet owner would for their dog.
3. Hang with pals who cheer your wins, not steal your toys.
4. Beat yesterday’s you, not the kid next door.
5. Don’t act bratty or Mom might not like you anymore.
6. Clean your room before whining about the messy world.
7. Do homework now, fun later, no shortcuts!
8. Always tell the truth, or your nose grows like Pinocchio.
9. Listen to others, they might know the best hideouts.
10. Say exactly what you mean, no mumbling excuses.
11. Learn to skateboard, danger builds character.
12. Pet that stray cat, life’s too short not to.
13. Don’t trash school rules or your friend’s Lego tower.
14. Picture who you could be, and chase that dream hard.
15. Don’t hide your messes under the bed, face them!
16. Spot chances to help when others slack off.
17. Don’t skip household chores assigned to you.
18. Learn to think for yourself, kid.
19. Hustle super hard on one fun skill and watch magic happen.
20. Turn your bedroom into a fortress of awesome.
21. Jot down bad memories to shrink their monster size.
22. Keep playdates fun with your best buds forever.
23. Skip being grumpy, sneaky, or know-it-all.
24. Say thanks even on rotten days.
25. Know thyself; like, what’s your favorite ice cream?
26. Respect elders; they know where cookies hide.
27. Play nice or face the timeout dragon.
28. Share your cookies.
29. Escape the cave shadows; turn off screens, see real fun outside.
30. Be excellent: practice kindness like a pro athlete.
31. Habit forms soul: brush teeth daily, become a tooth hero.
32. Know thyself: admit when you ate the last cookie.
33. Virtue is knowledge: learn tricks to avoid chores.
34. Control what you can, like picking your nose in private.
35. Don’t sweat stuff you can’t fix, like rainy recess.
36. Events are neutral; your attitude makes ’em fun or flop.
37. Virtue over toys: be good, even without candy bribes.
38. Endure veggies like a Stoic warrior.  It builds a tough stomach.
39. Control your tantrums, not the weather outside.
40. Be kind, even to annoying siblings.
41. Spilled milk? Clean up, move on.
42. Eat your veggies, run wild like beasts.
43. Play like it’s your last recess.
44. Skip fancy and expensive toys, stick to sticks and imagination.
45. Master your anger: count to ten before sibling smackdown.
46. Ditch cartoons, chase real adventures outside.
47. Aim for perfect homework, not scribbly mess.
48. Tell tales that make baths sound heroic quests.
49. Choose wisely now because good deeds mean epic soul adventures later.
50. Turn “maybe later” chores into done deeds.
51. Lost toy? Fate’s tough love lesson.
52. Your attitude turns rainy days sunny.
53. Act like a sage, not a whiny cartoon character.
54. Ask, “Is this worth it?”
55. Jump puddles blindly.  Trust the splash!

There we have it: 55 more lessons for kids. Note the stoic nature of many. Such timeless principles are often dismissed in today’s self-absorbed, nihilistic culture. Be yourself, but strive to be someone others admire. Your actions will echo through eternity.

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Please read my books:

1. “55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon (link here).
2. “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon (link here).