--- title: 'Setting boundaries with children' url: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/setting-boundaries-with-children' markdown: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/setting-boundaries-with-children.md' date: '2026-10-28' description: 'Boundaries aren’t about control. They help children feel safe and secure. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests deciding what matters most to you, such as phones, screen time or bedtime, at a calm moment away from your child, perhaps with a partner, co-parent or friend. Then deliver the boundary kindly but firmly. Your child may push back or get angry, but it will pass, and in the long term you’re really helping them.' taxonomy: category: - Toolkit contributor: - 'Dr Bettina Hohnen' tag: - 'Calming Techniques' - 'Home Life' - 'Challenging Behaviour' - 'Conduct Disorder' type: - Video --- # How to set boundaries with your child [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Challenging Behaviour ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Challenging%20Behaviour) [ Conduct Disorder ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Conduct%20Disorder) [ ![Nip in the Bud](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/themes/nitb/images/logos/round-logo.png) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us "About Nip in the Bud") ![Dr Bettina Hohnen](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/06.about-us/02.authors-and-experts/dr-bettina-hohnen/dr-bettina-hohnen.webp) Speaker [Dr Bettina Hohnen](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/authors-and-experts/dr-bettina-hohnen)speaker Duration: 0h 1m 10s Published: October 2026 Boundaries aren’t about control. They help children feel safe and secure. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests deciding what matters most to you, such as phones, screen time or bedtime, at a calm moment away from your child, perhaps with a partner, co-parent or friend. Then deliver the boundary kindly but firmly. Your child may push back or get angry, but it will pass, and in the long term you’re really helping them. --- Was this helpful? 0 0 Share: [ Previous Post](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/building-independence-in-neurodivergent-children) [Next Post ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/managing-tantrums-and-meltdowns) #### Other Related Posts: ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/managing-tantrums-and-meltdowns/meltdown-tantrum.jpg) ### Video: Managing tantrums and meltdowns [Video: Managing tantrums and meltdowns](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/managing-tantrums-and-meltdowns) When your child has a tantrum or meltdown, they’re having a really big feeling, and your calm can help them regulate. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina… [ Conduct Disorder ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Conduct%20Disorder) [ Challenging Behaviour ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Challenging%20Behaviour) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child/tantrums.jpg) ### Video: Daily Tantrums and Meltdowns: how to help your child [Video: Daily Tantrums and Meltdowns: how to help your child](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child) If your child is having tantrums or meltdowns every day, life may be feeling overwhelming for them. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests keeping… [ Anxiety ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Anxiety) [ Challenging Behaviour ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Challenging%20Behaviour) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/03.home-life/tips-for-parents/managing-challenging-behaviour-at-home/woman-and-child-looking-at-sea.webp) ### Video: ODD How to manage challenging behaviour at home: Tips for Parents [Video: ODD How to manage challenging behaviour at home: Tips for Parents](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/home-life/tips-for-parents/managing-challenging-behaviour-at-home) Learn 9 expert-backed tips to help you manage challenging, defiant behaviour at home, understand what's really driving it, and strengthen your connection… [ ODD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:ODD) [ Conduct Disorder ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Conduct%20Disorder) [ Challenging Behaviour ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Challenging%20Behaviour) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Ask Dr Bettina](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina.md) - Previous: [Managing tantrums and meltdowns](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/managing-tantrums-and-meltdowns.md) - Next: [Building independence in neurodivergent children](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/building-independence-in-neurodivergent-children.md)