Have you noticed all the kids at the airport lately? Not so long ago, you could only find them at the terminal playground areas or the gates, where their parents kept a watchful eye on them. But no ...

I'm in a coffee shop when a young child dumps out his mother's bag in search of fruit snacks. The contents spill onto the table, bench and floor. It's a chaotic—but functional—solution to the problem.

Children thrive when trusted to make decisions and experience the results of their choices. Overly controlling parenting can limit growth, while guided independence helps kids build resilience and ...