Well-respected child psychologist Dr. Larry Rosenberg was a special guest at The Long Ridge School, Thursday, January 10, as part of the Parent’s Group outreach to provide valuable insight for the LRS Community. Parents participated in a thoughtful discussion with Dr. Rosenberg to find out how and when to set limits for their children.
As part of the discussion, Dr. Rosenberg asserted that there are many variables that can influence how limits are determined by a family including: the age of the child, whether there are older or younger siblings, as well as cultural and socio-economic considerations which are also part of the overall picture.
Dr. Rosenberg agreed with the parent’s feedback that limits should be set in order to assure safety, to assist the child in adjusting to both the present and future realities of life, to establish an appropriate relationship with authority, and to help with self-regulation and impulse control. One important point that he made is that there is no ‘one-size fits all’ regarding how limits are set. Important takeaways from Dr. Rosenberg’s discussion included advising parents to: be honest with yourself and with your child’s strengths and weaknesses; set limits with the assurance that you do so because it is in the best interest of the child; remain cognizant of the developmental stage your child is in; and remember that kids appreciate limits being set for them and having someone in charge – parents need to be confident in that role and present a united front.