Nurturing Self-Control: Empowering Children to Navigate Boundaries

Often, we question the importance of self-control and wonder why children can’t simply be allowed to do as they please. To address this, let’s take a mental stroll through a park on a bright sunny day while keeping the quote in mind. The park is teeming with life, basking in the warm sunlight that casts a golden hue on the vibrant greenery. Families and friends enjoy picnics, while children play on swings and slides. Joggers and walkers traverse the space, some accompanied by dogs on leads, their tails wagging with excitement. But why are some dogs on leads and not freely roaming? News reports of dog bites, including an incident where a Metropolitan Police horse was injured in London, provide the answer. Officers at the scene emphasized the importance of keeping dogs on leads when they cannot be controlled. The officer at the scene said, “get that dog on a lead now!”. This connection brings us back to the quote.

As parents and guardians, we must teach our children self-control to protect them from being controlled by others as an anonymous quote explains “control yourself or someone else will control you.” Children need to understand the concept of boundaries and the appropriate time and place for everything. Just as boats are tied to docks and ships are anchored to prevent drifting, children must learn that there are limits. They have likely already experienced external control, such as being told to sit down in class when they shouldn’t be standing. It is our responsibility to help them develop the skills of self-control so they can avoid being commanded or dictated by others.

We can start by teaching them to assess situations, set boundaries, and act within those boundaries. Let us empower our children to be in control of themselves, rather than allowing someone else to exercise that control on them.