Being child centred rarely means giving the child what they want or desire. This can be the polar opposite of child-centredness.

Sometimes it may mean saying no. It may mean not taking what they say at face value, but questioning their motives.

Do we need to listen to young people? Yes. Do we need to take into consideration what they say? Yes. But what we mustn’t do is pander to their requests, however much we may want to show them that we care.

We can show care by reminding them of where the boundaries are, explaining healthy choices and guiding them towards making the right decisions.