Unfortunately, the kind intentions of the man prevented the bird's wings from developing fully and the bird could never fly.

Just associate this bird with your kids. Are you, in some way, doing the same? Are you weakening the wings of our little ones, in the pursuit of helping them?

Character Building

"Be careful when you go out!", "Don't talk to strangers!", "Make sure you don't come alone!", is what parents always say to their kids. These repeated instructions used to irritate you when you were a kid. So don't you think your kids would feel irritated as well?

Though today's children have the world at their fingertips (thanks to a little something called the 'internet'), their physical boundaries are shrinking rapidly. Playing on the streets, creating their own rules, moulding the existing rules, settling disputes, inventing new games, improving on the old ones - these are things that really help a child build his character. You found it fun, didn't you?

Sadly, now-a-days parents organise activities for kids without realising that this organised play doesn't help kids develop. Going to play has become an irritating experience. It is like going for another class.

Can You Be Too Safe?

Bicycle helmets, padding, gloves, safe play grounds, sunscreen, etc. give kids the message that the world is full of threats, and they are not capable of handling it by themselves.

An Australian study found that playground injuries continue to rise despite safety improvements. One of the reasons... the new safe-play structures are so boring that kids are taking more risks in order to have fun.

Let Her Grow

Erik Eriksson, a German psychologist outlines different stages in his theory of Psychosocial Development.

1. From birth up to 18 months, a child learns the value of trust.
   
   
2. At the age of three, her energies are directed toward the development of physical skills, including walking, grasping and rectal control.
   
   She learns control but may develop shame and doubt, if not handled well.
   
   
3. By the age of six, he continues to become more assertive and to take more initiative. He becomes independent.

During these stages of development, if the child is handled the right way, she develops into a strong and independent person.

Otherwise, she will turn out to be an introvert or a completely paranoid person, scared of everything, suspecting everyone and not confident enough to do anything. It is therefore, all up to the parent.

Let Him Pick His Battles

All children do not react the same way. Some might just go ahead and do what they are asked not to do, while others will be the quiet ones, who will always depend on their parents for everything.

Resilience and the ability to resist pressure come with experience. These are skills to be learnt by course of nature.

If you bubble wrap your kids, and don't give them sufficient opportunities to learn and take minimal risks in their day-to-day activities, they are going to be poorly equipped to take up and handle responsibilities later in life.