Structure is important. Kids always attempt to overshoot boundaries or limits, and as they grow older, they get increasingly cunning at that. Toddlers often try

Structure is important. Kids always attempt to overshoot boundaries or limits, and as they grow older, they get increasingly cunning at that. Toddlers often try crying or hysterics, which gradually morphs into argumentation (I didn't have a cookie yesterday, so I should have an extra one today), which morphs into subterfuge (either grabbing them when your aren't present, or first asking one parent, then the next). Enforcing boundaries and limits is (in my opinion) one of the key aspects of parenthood, combined with clear explanations on why those boundaries exist. Careful moderation of boundaries leads to kids that aren't prone to outbursts (since those have no effect on you) and grounds them to reality. Telling kids about how the world works or giving them information about history or science is a blast and careful insertion of total bullshit leads to them being critical of what they are told, and to question information handed to them. Obviously, you need to be overt with the bullshit at the beginning, and work your way into more subtle bullshit as they age to keep them on their toes. :-)