Relationships with parents and family

Although child-parental relationships and attachment remain important, expectations within these relationships change. Parents of children between the ages of 5 to 11 start to recognise that their children have a growing capacity for self-regulation and to conform to parental standards of behaviour without direct supervision. Consequently as children get older, parents are more likely to allow them to take part in activities such as riding their bike or going out with friends without supervision.

Whilst there are individual and cultural differences as to the specific age that parents are willing to allow this it's true that in general, most cultures expect 5 to 11 year olds to be able to supervise their own behaviour at least some of the time.

It is thought that several parenting variables contribute to the development of self-regulation in children. These include parent's own ability to self-regulate, parental expectations and the child’s own ability to self-regulate.