S4E15 - How Much Freedom Should I Give My 10-Year-Old (Without Sacrificing Safety)?

Play Therapy Parenting: Real Parenting Questions Answered by a Child Therapist · Sep 17, 2026 · 11m · transcript

In this episode, I answer a follow-up question from a mom who recently reduced screen time for her 8- and 10-year-old children and is now seeing an unexpected result: her son wants to spend much more time outside with friends. That is a huge win, but it has created a new parenting challenge—how much freedom and independence should a 10-year-old actually have? I talk through ways to gradually increase independence without ignoring legitimate safety concerns, including starting with one approved activity, setting clear expectations, and allowing children to earn greater freedom by demonstrating…