Write down specific goals in the contract. Second graders are not good at abstract thinking, so it is important that you give concrete examples of the behavior you do and do not want to see.
Write down consequences for breaking the rules. These should be clear and specific. Writing, "Punishment for breaking the rules" is inadequate. Your second-grader needs to know exactly what to expect if he breaks the rules. Children thrive when they are given choices about their behavior. When your child has a choice between breaking the rules or receiving a specific punishment, he is more likely to follow the rules.
Write down rewards for following the rules or meeting specific goals. Children must be rewarded for good behavior, not just punished for bad behavior. A behavior contract should read like an actual agreement between a child and parent or teacher, not just a list of punishments. When children know they will be rewarded for doing the right thing, they have a strong incentive to follow the rules.
Use simple language in the contract. Children need to be able to understand exactly what the contract says. You should also avoid using adjectives about behavior. Rather than saying that a child is being bad or mean, simply name the behavior. As journalist Cordelia Fine has argued, based on her analysis of the research, labeling children as bad actually makes them more likely to behave poorly
Talk about the contract with the child. Your second-grader should know everything that is in the contract and should be allowed to make suggestions, including about your behavior. A "No Yelling at Kids" clause is popular in behavioral contracts. If the child has any objections to any section of the contract, talk it through until you can come to a mutual agreement.