This is the battle ground of every teenager and parent. Setting boundaries for little kids is kind of easy. You make the rule. They break the rule and you teach them the rule with follow through Discipline. One that hopefully you have talked about with your spouse and even posted on the child's bedroom door, if they are old enough to read.

But what do you do when the child is older and will actually challenge you for extended boundaries.
It is going to happen. How you handle it is very important for both of you.

This time in life gives you a chance to teach your youth the art of negotiation. You will discuss it with them but when the facts fall it is still your decision to make as the Parent.

If you make your decision on a firm foundation it will help you in the near future when this problem appears again and it most definetly will.

What are boundaries:

*What time the child curfew is.
(sometimes the area you live in will help
you out on this one by setting a city
curfew).
*How far can they ride their bike.
*Do they need permission to go to a friends
house?
*How often must they check in? In person or
by phone?
*Bedtime on weekends.

You will not believe how many boundaries and issues about boundaries you will incur with your children.
And Yes those same boundaries can change in a matter of minutes.

It is best to have a general set of household boundaries that everyone follows. It is an issue of safety. When you are not there and the child needs to make a choice if he can or can not go to a friends house 5 blocks over. Little issues like this arrive a lot in working households when mom or dad is working and the child has to make a choice.

My children know if they are out side they must check in with me in person every hour. If they are at a friends house I want a phone call every other hour or when they are arriving and leaving the friends house.

My 7 year old can not ride her bike in the street without our permission and supervision. However my 16 year old can. Try explaining that one to the little ears of a child saying "that's not fair.
Posting general boundaries helps out a lot. Our chart says when you are 12 you may ride your bike in the street.

Of course if mom is out there with them riding that boundary will change under supervision. So flex ability is a good thing.

What are some basic boundaries that you will set for your household to follow? Share your ideas.
There maybe someone out there with a delima that you can help clear up by suggesting a few ideas.

Boundaries are often set just for the basic safety issue of your family. Remember this when being flexible.

Come on lets hear those suggestions....