How much should I let my children explore the world on their own?

     Having and raising children is a tremendous joy and an unimaginable responsibility. My two little ones are 5 and 2. You read all sorts of books and magazines and blogs about raising children, but until you actually (try to) do it, you can't really understand how difficult the responsibilities and challenges can be.

    A central question I have when I play and guide them and watch them - it's work, but it's fun work! - is the balance between guidance and allowing them to explore on their own. For sure, safety is a primary concern - in many cases, me and my wife step in and "guide" them when they play or walk around just to keep them safe. In many cases, we estimate they aren't able to safely do something (ie. climb up on the kitchen counter), when they really are able to. They know more than we think they do!

    So the challenge becomes, you guide to keep them safe and to teach them (our years of life experience must have some value we can share!). But you also need to let them try things themselves - open/close the box, the door, put on their shoes by themselves, clean up the mess they made with their toys in the living room. The more and more I observe them, the more I see how much they learn by observing the world around them and trying things themselves. You have to be patient and watch them explore the world.