Before they walk or talk, parents sign their babies up for swimming lessons.

At 5 or 6, it's time for Tae Kwan Do to sharpen their body and mind.

Some girls are taking Irish dancing lessons not once, but twice a week.

As parents try to raise a good kid, it's hard to find any family at home, spending time together, between the hours of 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Whether you have boys or girls, many mothers complain they've become nothing more than chauffeurs taking the kids from one activity to another.

"What we have today are families that are child centered," says John Rosemond, a syndicated columnist and author on parenting issues.

He preaches tough love for parents. His advice-- say no, and if your kids need a reason try one of these six.

• You're not old enough
• It costs too much
• You might get hurt
• There's not enough time
• We don't believe in that
• We don't like those kids.

When Lamont and Regina Henderson's family goes out for pizza, the kids-- down to 2-year-old Quinton-- know what's expected.

Lamont admits, "I must say the kids are pretty well behaved. We go out, they know what the restrictions are and how they should act in public."

Katie Wall is the oldest in her family of nine. "I can see people who weren't necessarily taught the kind of respect we were taught, I guess manners basically," she says.

Her family works at being consistent with the rules.

The family's father, John Wall, says, "Together you have to come to an agreement. I think the worst thing is when they play the two parents against each other and that's easy for children to do."

Sometimes there is room for discussion. Sue Wall says, "Nellie wanted to get her ears pierced-- no, go to a sleepover before she was ten. We had to have a family meeting and vote on it. The vote was no."

Parents, whether they have only one child or several, find they need to enforce rules to show who's boss-- especially with young boys.

Parenting expert Don Elium says, "Boys need to know three things - who's the boss, what are the rules, and are you going to enforce them."

Elium, who along with his wife has written 'Raising A Son' and 'Raising a Daughter' has more advice.

"For children under seven it has to be a consequence that happens in the next 5 to 10 minutes," he says.

To raise a good kid takes guidance, time, discipline and love.

Lamont Henderson advises, "Make sure that's one of the priorities in the home is showing love to one another. Because when the kids see that, they actually mimic that."