...children independent thinkers?

In this world children should be taught to be independent. I believe that independence and responsibility can and do come together. But it has to be taught by example. If we live our lives by our rules as well as societies how can we go wrong? So many people follow the commonly accepted path only to find at the end they did it all wrong. And there is nothing worse than to look back on your life and that you have done it all for someone else.

I think there needs to be a balance. Kids can not be fully independant untill we have taught them discipline. If we just let out kids be independant wow it would be a crazy world. There is a reason they are called kids and not adults becuase they still needs direction. You cant do everything for your kids but you also cant expect them to know everything on their own.

I encouraged my kids to be independent thinkers but they also were disciplined. You don't want to raise yes-men but you do want them to understand that with freedom comes responsibility.

i think it takes alittle of both really. you have to raise them to be independent but at the same time you have to set limits and rules as well. i mean even as an adult there are rules and limits but yet we think for ourselves and try to make the right choices. we have to guide them along there way but we can not keep them little forever they have to be able to take care of there selves as well. you will not always be with them. when you send them to school they have to think can i be friends with this person should i do this. but you have to teach them rules and discipline so that they can make a good choice of what to do and what not to do and who would be a good friend and so forth. we give our kids freedom to make chioces and do things. they also know right from wrong and if they do something that they know is wrong they are going to pay for the crime.

I disagree with all of them. Children should have a place to live and food and nothing else (well ok, basic care, for the very first years, but then passive parent is much better then active parent). I think that all these theories (how to raise kids) are very unnatural and don't have any biological basis. Animals don't think about these things so much (no sh*t, sherlock:) and raise their children (:) more efficient we are doing. We can all see how our kids have more frustrations then those of monkey's. : And it's all true!!!