We show our concern and love for our children when we set reasonable limits. Reasonable limits tell a child, “I care about you; I want you to be safe. I want you to be considerate. By acting responsibly you will learn to get along with others.”
❦ Children need reasonable limits to feel safe
Children need limits. Imagine approaching a bridge over a wide river or canyon. As you near the bridge, you realize there are no guardrails, just a flat surface suspended over the abyss. How would you feel? Would you drive over this bridge? Probably not because limits are like the guardrails on a bridge; they provide security. Children feel protected by limits. Limits help children discriminate between what is safe and what is dangerous. By having boundaries, children are free to explore the world around them without fear of harming themselves or others.
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