Yes, to some extent, kids do need privacy. When they are little, they basically move around with little knowledge of their surroundings. But once they are about 8 years old, something definitely changes in them. That is the point when they start clamoring for some form of privacy.
When I was little, I basically bathed outside, but around the age of 7 or so, I developed some sense of awareness and would tussle with my mum not to bathe me in the open. Of course, she wouldn't listen, but this just shows that at a particular stage, kids need their privacy.
Open-door policy is vitally important in the early years of kids, and the level of strictness is dependent to some extent on the age. Between the ages of 0 to 5, kids know next to nothing. At this stage, they need constant monitoring for protection and guidance. Privacy of whatever sort shouldn't be encouraged. Even the kids are not that self-aware.
When kids turn 6, their development gathers pace. For example, I could barely remember anything about myself till the age of five. But there are many things I remembered about my childhood around the age of 6, 7. Generally, between 6 and 12, some form of privacy can be introduced while kids are still strictly monitored and guided.
In some girls, puberty starts as early as 10. By then, emotional, physical and social characteristics associated with puberty will be inherent in that child. That's why some sort of privacy is needed. These days, a 10-year-old girl already knows it's wrong to walk around naked where boys are. So, imagine having such a girl share the same room and bed with a male sibling. There will be an intrusion of privacy that will make her uncomfortable.
The teenage years are probably the most testing years for parents as regards raising a child. At this point, children not only want their privacy, they demand it. If you barge into their rooms without knocking, you'll get a reaction from them. If you try to pry too much into their affairs, they push back instantly. Despite that, clear boundaries have to be set, and they should know what is expected of them.
Finding the right balance between monitoring children and allowing them their private space is never easy, especially when they become teenagers. Once in a while, I do reminisce about my teenage years and I couldn't help but ask why I did some things despite knowing they were wrong. The fact is, the teenage rush to try things, to impress, can be too strong to resist. As parents, we have to continue guiding and monitoring our children by opening a channel of trust and respect.
Fathers have to communicate with their boys and stand as a guide and mentor. It is their lives and we can't run it for them, but we can make ourselves available for them whenever they need guidance. One important aspect of that is not to be too judgmental. Like, when we were teenagers, our parents did their best, but we still messed up some things anyway. If a father plays the holier-than-thou role and criticizes or punishes harshly the mistakes of his boys, those boys won't relate with the father. They'd rather relate with their friends who may get them in deep shit.
In the end, we can only do our best as parents. There is way too much outside influence these days to conclude if one's method will work perfectly. Despite that, continuous monitoring and good communication remain the best way to raise a child
[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/cctv-surveillance-camera-cctv-726755
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