Description Children of all ages require clear boundaries to help them to navigate the world at large and to develop in a healthy way. But “boundaries” doesn’t necessarily mean rules: babies need physical boundaries—loving arms and a crib in which to feel safe; young children depend on regular routines to know what will happen next and what they might be doing tomorrow; older children need space to make positive choices and to develop as individuals. So how can we provide appropriate boundaries for our children? How do we know when to adapt to our children as they grow and develop as individuals. This insightful book offers an overview of the various types of the boundaries children need at successive ages and stages, growing from babies to young adults. Why Children Need Boundaries offers a parental toolkit of practical advice on common pitfalls and how to avoid them—how to form healthy family habits and how to set appropriate rules and guidance. Loïs Eijgenraam, author of Helping Children Form Healthy Attachments, draws on Rudolf Steiner’s theories of child development to create a holistic, natural, and positive guide to inspire and support your approach to parenting healthy children. This is a simple and succinct account of what boundaries are in the context of raising children, why they are important both for harmonizing family life and for lifelong health and happiness. Most important, the author explains how to successfully bring boundaries into children’s lives in an appropriate age-related way. — Jill Tina Taplin, NESWEC Course Coordinator C O N T E N T S PART 1: CHILDREN AND BOUNDARIES 1. What Do We Mean by “Boundaries”? 2. Some Theory on Child Development 3. Why Do Children Need Boundaries? PART 2: BOUNDARIES AT EACH AGE AND STAGE 1. 0–7-year-olds 2. 7–14-year-olds 3. 14–21-year-olds PART 3: HOW TO ESTABLISH LOVING BOUNDARIES 1. An Overview of Parenting Styles 2. Evaluating Your Own Biography 3. Parenting Behaviour to Avoid 4. Am I Spoiling My Children? 5. Forming Positive Habits 6. A Seven-Step Guide to Setting Appropriate Boundaries 7. Twelve Golden Words Acknowledgements Bibliography
