Some parents believe that children need strict rules. Other parents believe children should have a lot of freedom to make decisions on their own. Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Establishing

rules

with offspring can be complicated. Young

children

look to their

parents

for security and order, and

rules

are one important way they acquire

this

sense.

However

, as they mature, young people need room to make decisions so they can develop an independent sense of responsibility towards themselves and others. For

this

reason, I believe that while

children

need clear and consistently enforced

rules

, they should not be restricted so severely that they have very few opportunities to think independently. Most heirs are subjected to

rules

they dislike.

However

, when the purpose of a rule is communicated clearly and the

parents

’ enforcement is fair and consistent, a rule can help

children

to learn how to take on responsibility and

act

appropriately.

For example

, at a certain age, very young kids are capable of cleaning up their own messes, but often they must be told to do so. The

child

must be taught, through

rules

and repetition, that taking responsibility for one’s own messes is important. As another example, many teenagers don’t always think through the consequences of their actions fully before they

act

. Indeed, brain research has shown that teenagers are more likely to

act

impulsively because their brains are wired to do so.

This

is why

parents

should be very firm about

rules

that prevent risky or

otherwise

negative behaviours.

Nevertheless

,

parents

should not be overbearing. The goal of parenting should be to prepare a youngster to make independent choices that will lead to a happy and fulfilling life. The best way to achieve

this

goal is to grant more and more freedom as the

child

progresses towards adulthood.

For example

, at some , point a

child

must learn to take schoolwork seriously and help out around the house. The ultimate goal is for the

child

to internalize the desire to be a good student and a helpful housemate. If

parents

fail to demonstrate trust by allowing some freedom for their

children

to try (and sometimes fail) to do the right things independently, it is likely that the

child

will

act

out against strict

rules

rather than internalize them. Of course, every

child

will respond to

rules

differently.

This

is yet another reason why it’s important for

parents

to find the appropriate balance. While

parents

should enforce

rules

with consistency and clarity, they should constantly seek opportunities for a

child

to show that he or she can

act

the right way independently.