“Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes.” This Chinese proverb has a lot to say about establishing and enforcing effective boundaries for kids to become successful adults. Rather than trying to correct an attitude of entitlement when kids are going into adolescence, childhood development research strongly suggests that some of the most important life skills, such as regulating emotions, learning how to communicate, and social awareness, are all formed from the time kids are born until they reach school age. What can parents do to take full advantage of this unique window of opportunity? We’ll look at 12 of the best practices that can help parents create an encouraging environment for self-sufficient kids to succeed in life. 1. Set Boundaries … and Stick to Them Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They are still in the process …