What are conventional norms?

Conventional norms are rules that help people know what to do or say in certain situations.

Imagine you're playing a game with your friends. You all agree beforehand that when someone says "Go!" everyone starts running. That agreement is like a convention, it’s something you all follow so the game works well.

At the playground, there are rules too. If you're on the swings, you take turns. No one just jumps in front of you without asking. These are norms, they help everyone have fun and not get upset.

Sometimes people change the rules to make things better. Maybe your friends decide that instead of taking turns, you can all swing at the same time if it’s quiet. That new rule is still a convention, just a different one.

Just like how you know what to do on the playground because everyone agrees on the rules, people in bigger groups, like schools or cities, follow conventions too. They help everyone get along and understand each other better!