Boundaries

Kids need free authentic play. It's what kids naturally do. It's a major factor that leads into a healthy adulthood. They gain self knowledge through authentic play, thus are better able to get along in the competitive world. That said, children need boundaries as well, they can't just run wild and free. Parents must be eternally vigilant with their children, while not hovering over them, except with very young children, they should be concerned with their physical safety and keeping them safe from evil on the internet and keep them away from unsavory peers and adults. It's a major challenge, let them have autonomy, but still instill boundaries, but it must be done. It seems a number of parents get it backwards, the set strong boundaries when their children should have autonomy, and they let their kids run wild when they should have boundaries.