Children learn who they are and how to identify, value, and communicate needs and feelings through interactions with their parents. 【小题1】 Here are several key things to ensure your children grow into independent adults.

Allow freedom of information. One of the main characteristics of healthy families is freedom to express thoughts and observations. 【小题2】 For instance, forbidding mentioning of daddy’s drinking teaches children to be fearful and doubt themselves. Children are naturally curious about everything. This is healthy and should be encouraged.

Accept your children’s feelings. Many clients tell me that they weren’t allowed to express anger, complain, feel sad or even get excited. 【小题3】 This becomes problematic in their adult relationships and can lead to depression. Allowing children to express their feelings provides a healthy outlet.

Respect your children’s boundaries. Respecting children’s thoughts and feelings is a way of respecting boundaries. Verbal abuse and attacks violate their boundaries, so does unwanted touch. Additionally, children’s property, space and privacy should be respected. 【小题4】

【小题5】 Children need a safe, predictable and fair environment. When rules and punishments are arbitrary or inconsistent, instead of learning from mistakes, children will become angry and anxious, and learn to distrust their parents. The best rules and punishments should relate to natural consequences of the wrong-doing, rather than mere physical punishments.