Sometimes. But boundaries are only one tool in the parenting toolbox. If a child keeps crashing into the barrier, we can keep making the barrier bigger. Or we can look at the road. Is the task too hard?Are they overwhelmed?Do they need help getting started?Can we change the environment before things fall apart? Sometimes the best way to change behaviour isn’t to build a bigger barrier. It’s to redesign the road.

Sometimes they know perfectly well WHAT they need to do. The tricky part is HOW to get started. Instead of another command: “Put your shoes on!” Try giving their brain useful information: “We’re leaving in five minutes. Your shoes are by the door.” It won’t magically work for every child or every situation. It’s simply another tool that can reduce pressure while supporting executive functioning. Less directing. More information.

Because there usually isn’t one scientifically proven answer to the messy questions of everyday parenting. Evidence matters enormously. But so do your child, your family, your culture, your values and what is actually sustainable in your home. Listen to experts. Listen to people who know your family. Listen to your child. Then get curious about what actually happens when you try something. What works for your family is important data too.