Child Discipline
The primary objective of parenting is to produce a confident, independent adult. Parents haven’t failed if their child gets a punch in the nose or makes a mistake. Parents fail when their children remain children.
Children are, of course, not ready to assume adult responsibility until they are adults. It would be a mistake to force them into independence before their time, but we do need to have independence in mind as our ultimate goal.
The way to prepare children for adulthood without overwhelming them with more than they can handle is by providing freedom within boundaries. The benefits of this system are many. By being able to make choices, the child develops a sense of individuality that is very important in later life.
Basically, freedom within boundaries means allowing a child to do whatever he chooses among options or within limits which you set.
The general rule of thumb is that if a child is ready to bear the consequences of his decision or choice, then you can let him make that decision for himself.
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Add comment November 13th, 2006
