Children Are Entitled To Autonomy
I choose joyful chaos over despondent deference
I’ve heard this said about my son on more than one occasion, “he seems to think he can do what he wants, and doesn’t have to do something if he doesn’t want to.”
Um, well, yes.
He’s a human being after all, with free will and autonomy.
Certainly all of our actions have consequences, and I mean naturally-occurring consequences, not adult-imposed punishments.
Of course I want my son to learn responsibility and to be kind and respectful to others.
So how do I teach that, if I don’t force him to do things he doesn’t want to do?
That’s exactly how. By treating him with the same respect and kindness I want him to learn and show others. By taking responsibility for my own actions and role-modelling the behaviours I want to see from him.
Children learn from our examples.
