Friday, May 27, 2011

Parent-Child Relationship and Privacy


Parents need to give their children privacy as to time and space as they grow more mature. The values of trust and responsibility are first learned by children in the home. Because of this, children need parents who can let them live in an environment that builds trust and responsibility. This can happen if children begin to experience in the home the privacy that they need.

Some parents feel uncomfortable when they observe that their child wants his or her own private time. Unless this is dealt with the right way, children will find it difficult to learn to develop trust and responsibility. Parents can creatively and effectively handle this kind of situation by talking with their child. They should make him or her speak what is on his or her mind - why the need to be alone.

Parents should not underestimate the value of knowing the reason why he or she needs some private time and space. Much more, they should be quick in telling whether their child tells the truth. Is the child growing the “normal” way, or does he or she just want to hide something? A child who needs to be alone too often might need counseling and not just privacy.

A positive support environment by parents could help a lot once they are sure that their child shows normal behavior. It is best for both parents and child to sit together and set some rules. Knocking on the door before entering one’s room is a simple privacy rule. However, this should apply to both child and parents. This also means that parents should not be scared when their teen hangs a “Do Not Disturb” sign by his or her door. Parents should take this as a sign of growing up, but they should also be observant.

Many relationship problems can be avoided if parents respect their child’s privacy. Too much intrusion can make children feel insulted. They feel that they will not do the right things when they are out of sight. Children do not have the chance to develop trust in other people, especially when they are ready go out to the bigger world. It is because the home was not an environment that built trust. As parents work for protection of their children, they should also aim to balance it with privacy.

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