Some people think children should have the freedom to make mistakes, while other people believe that adults should prevent children from making mistakes. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Some people think that

children

should be allowed to make

mistakes

, while others feel that

adults

should take a preventative approach. In my opinion, there are limits but it is

nonetheless

essential for healthy development to permit

children

their errors. Proponents of reduced freedom for

children

argue that

mistakes

can lead to a pattern of misbehaviour.

This

argument is often advanced by overprotective

parents

who believe human nature naturally trends toward anti-social activity.

For example

, a child who is mean to classmates and performs poorly in academics and athletics will only continue

this

behaviour if enabled by understanding

adults

. To counter the child’s wayward impulses,

parents

should

instead

either punish or reward in order to motivate more socially acceptable behaviour. The theory is that

children

will

then

recognize the boundaries set by

parents

and society and later fit into the adult world as well-functioning members. Regardless, a sense of autonomy is crucial to mature development.

Children

who are shielded from making

mistakes

often lack the skills that encourage healthy growth. The majority of learning,

for instance

, is achieved through

mistakes

. A child who is learning a sport makes mistake after mistake but does it with a positive attitude and eventually improves. Later in life, the attitude may become more negative but the process remains the same for all disciplines, private and public.

Parents

and other

adults

must

therefore

seek to impart unconditional support and ensure

children

do not develop self-esteem problems based on their

mistakes

.

This

approach of fostering cheerful self-sufficiency will serve them best throughout life. In conclusion,

although

some

adults

may feel that they are preventing

children

from making

mistakes

for the public good, they are in fact doing great harm to their child’s mental well-being. If larger segments of society accept

this

perspective, it will benefit all of society.