how to raise children

An even balance between the two should be sought. Parents should sit down and decide how to discipline and reward the child for everything he or she does. A parent should also decide how to reward a child for his progress reports and report cards, and how often the child is allowed to be around their friends. Sometimes parents allow their children to be around the child's friends, and they may influence the child badly. A child should never be strictly or harshly disciplined but should be taught what is right and wrong between two ideals. The parents should also equally discipline or reward the child, and stick together on either. A child that grows up knowing they can go to either parent and get out of trouble, gets confused and what is wrong and right.

I would have to agree with a lot of what's been said already. Child raising requires a balance of freedom and discipline. Everyone learns they have limits eventually and it is much easier to learn that as a child from people who love you then when you are an adult from people who could care less about you. Thus discipline is important. But eventually your children will be out from under your care and have to manage themselves so it is important that they learn how to cope with freedom and independence. I would also agree that it is important to start small and build up till they have almost no limits when they are ready to move out on their own. (On an aside if your child is reluctant to leave sometimes decreasing their freedoms encourages them to strick out on their own.) I would also have to say that the amount of freedom versus disciple that each child needs is not the same across the board. It depends on the child. Some children are naturally very independent and need more discipline, while others are more timid and need to be encouraged to explore their freedom. I think the most important thing you can do though is to be consistent. If a rule is enforced one moment and not the next the child doesn't learn anything about their own limits or managing their freedom. Hope that was helpful.

I pick neither of those...I raise my kids how I feel they need to be raised which doesnt fall into either of those categories..or maybe both come to think of it..My kids are free to learn on their own BUT I have rules that need to be followed...Bottomline though when it comes to raising kids is to NOT worry about "categories" or what others think, do, believe etc etc...Even when it comes to more than one child in the same household...Children should be raised according to their personalities as far as I'm concerned...

The two are not opposites, and go hand in hand. Discipline helps give children the ability to make decisions and gain independence. Start by giving small amounts of independence when children are very young, such as choosing what clothes to wear. Then make sure there are consequences for poor choices. Talk to children about the choice and what was good or bad about it, and how they could choose more wisely next time. As children learn to control their behavior and make good choices, gradually allow more freedom.