"Permissiveness is the principle of treating children as if they were adults; and the tactic of making sure they never reach that stage"

This quote by Thomas Szasz talks to the idea of permissiveness in parenting. Permissiveness is the concept of dealing with kids as if they were grownups, permitting them to make their own decisions and not enforcing any guidelines or limitations. However, Szasz recommends that this technique is misguided, as it does not allow kids to reach the phase of their adult years. By not enforcing any rules or constraints, children are not provided the opportunity to find out how to make accountable choices and take obligation for their actions. This can cause an absence of maturity and an inability to deal with the responsibilities of adulthood. Szasz's quote recommends that permissiveness is not the best approach to parenting, as it does not permit children to reach the phase of the adult years. Instead, he suggests that moms and dads need to provide assistance and structure to their children, enabling them to learn how to make accountable decisions and take responsibility for their actions.