Privacy Needs of Kids

Privacy is an issue needs sensitive handling by parents. The child’s increased need for space, defining their individual space, freedom, not sharing with others etc can make parents feel that the child is getting isolated or wants to be secluded.

The need for own space grows with the development of the child. When the child realizes his/her individuality, independence, and learns about the boundaries of private and personal, the demand for privacy may be made. The child also grows out of the dependence on parents, feels that they can resolve issues on their own, they do not need to tell everything to parents, need to keep some things secret, then the issue of privacy can come into the picture.

Privacy may be in terms of what they disclose to the parents or not, demand for a separate room, not sharing the space with siblings, revolting against parental control and questioning, not appreciating parent’s need to know everything about the child etc. They may not like you going through their books or bag. They may not like you to spend much time in their room, clean their stuff, go through their cell phone or ask about their friends and so on.

They may take your interest in their life as an intrusion and may begin to resent it. They may feel that the parent is trying to control their life, parents are over possessive or parents do not trust the child as they keep asking them questions about their whereabouts, company they keep etc. Going through the child’s diary or personal notes, letters etc also may be offending to the child as he/she may feel that their personal space has been violated.

Children may pick up the tendency of closing their bedroom door whenever they are inside so that parents do not come in unannounced, may begin to lock the doors too so that they are not caught doing anything personal and do not have to be embarrassed.