Loving Ways to Set Limits

In Lesson One you learned about ways in which you might be overindulging your children in your every day life. In this step, we're going to discuss TLC, which stands for Time, Limits and Caring - what I call the holy trinity of childcare. You'll learn the importance of limits, and start to get comfortable with making rules and being strict with your children when necessary.

It's impossible to raise children well unless we spend time with them. And spending simple time together has wonderful results. For example, my research shows that children in families that eat dinner together at least a few times per week tend to be less depressed, have less permissive attitudes toward sex, are less likely to use drugs, and are more likely to work to their intellectual potential in school. Caring is equally important - taking an active interest in our children's lives, being willing to listen to what's on their minds and participate in their activities.

For most parents, the trickiest part of TLC is setting limits for our kids. We believe setting limits-saying "no" for example- will destroy the closeness we have with our children and take all the fun out of parenting. But it is only by setting limits that we can help kids develop character and avoid some of the dangers of adolescence, including eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and underachievement.