Setting effective rules and boundaries is essential to helping your children develop healthy relationships with themselves and those around them. Setting expectations early on helps kids understand the importance of following guidelines, while still feeling like they have some degree of autonomy. It also teaches them how to make decisions within those boundaries. Modeling appropriate behavior is important, too, as children often take cues from their parents’ actions when it comes to understanding how to interact with others. Ultimately, strong rules and boundaries give children the structure needed to succeed in life, while still allowing for flexibility and creativity.